As it gets colder, people can often struggle with dropping temperatures and loneliness. Here are some simple tips to stay safe and happy this winter.

Tip 1: Wrap up with Winter Woolies

It is important that we are dressed for the cold when leaving the house. Wearing several loose layers, warm socks, winter scarves and wraps, help keep your body warm, as the air is held between the layers. If it is too cold, you could always stay inside, have a warm cuppa, relax to music or catch up on your favourite television series.

Tip 2: Stay positive

Just because the nights are getting darker and it is getting colder, doesn’t mean that winter has to be a depressing time. Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while, read a good novel, take up a new hobby or get together with people you love. Connecting with friends and family will lead you to happier lives.

Tip 3: Keep the cold out

As the temperature starts to drop, it is important to dress in warm layers at home. For that extra warmth and cosiness, throw a rug over your legs, wear warm socks and slippers, and seal up openings around doors and windows. Curtains are also a great way to keep the warmth in, so pull the drapes closed. It is important that heaters and smoke detectors are checked regularly by a qualified professional, and if you need financial help with heating your home, you could check if you are eligible for the Energy Supplement to help with energy costs.

Tip 4: Eat healthy food

A balanced diet is essential during winter, when we tend to be less active, and more susceptible to coughs and colds. Regular hot meals, supplemented by fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C, zinc and iron, will boost your immune system, as well as keep your energy up over the winter months.

Tip 5: Check in

Reach out to someone who may be alone this winter and check in on them occasionally. Sometimes, a gentle act of kindness, can cast a ray of sunshine, within the darkest place. With the cold preventing people from getting out often, those living on their own can often feel a sense of isolation and loneliness. If you can’t visit regularly, you could arrange for someone else to check in, to ensure your loved one is happy and safe.

How My Support Champion can help this winter

Winter can be a lonely time, and a source of worry for some. Additional help in the form of COMPANIONSHIP can be a good option, to assist you or a loved one with daily tasks, such as HOME CARE and PERSONAL CARE, and also provide a meaningful human connection that significantly improves the quality of life. Besides daily tasks, our support workers and carers can support you or a loved one in a range of activities, from walks, shopping, visiting parks or a trip to the movies. At My Support Champion we match support workers and carers to your needs, taking into account not only their expertise, but also your interests and preferences.

To find out more contact us at info@mysupportchampion.com.au

Caring for the disabled and elderly is understandably not an easy thing to do. There could be challenging moments, when supporting and assisting vulnerable people. In order to make sure that you deal with stress both mentally and physically, we have put together a guide, on ways to care for the disabled and elderly.

In this article, we will discuss some ethical standard precautions and tips on the approved ways to care for the disabled and the elderly.

Tip 1: Don’t take things personally.

The person who receives care from you may sometimes be going through occasional mood swings and this can sometimes make them feel depressed. This is in no way a reflection of you or your pattern of care. That's because of the mental, physical and emotional challenges that they do go through at this stage. They do appreciate the support and care that you offer. However, you will have to face the unexpected at certain times. In all instances, you need to remain mindfully and act professionally. Hence, you need to make sure that you are not taking their reactions to you personally.

Tip 2: Be positive and patient.

While offering care for the disabled and elderly, there is a need to remain positive and patient at all times. You should never expect them to do things the standard way. They may have to overcome many challenges before they can do a specific task. This is where you come in equipped with patience, positivity and encouragement. On the other hand, you must learn how to provide them with the time that is needed to learn what you expect them to do as well.

You must also remain positive when you are offering care for the individuals who are in need of help by being open minded and brave. In addition to that, you should also remain forgiving and kind. If you can also be grateful and optimistic, you can discover the joy inside all the difficult work that you are doing on a daily basis. Then you can be a true inspiration for others as well.

Tip 3: Empathy over sympathy.

By nature, you will feel sorry for the disabled or elderly individual that you are taking care of. However, you should remain mindful when you are expressing it. That's because most of the people you care for would not want other people to feel sorry about them. It can make them feel powerless as well. Hence, you need to showcase your love and concern to the person who receives care from you at all times. At no instance should you make a show that you feel sorry or pity for your clients. It should always be empathy rather than sympathy.

Tip 4: Go for regular exercises.

Workouts are among the best methods available that helps to develop the body’s strength and system which in turn aids in relieving stress. When you are taking care of disabled or senior citizens, you will need to have lots of energy and stamina which is what regular workout does to the body. These regular exercises will be able to provide you with all the support and assistance that you need to overcome endorphins. Exercising also helps to develop the mind body and soul, hence its importance as a caregiver.

Tip 5: Stick to the correct lifting procedures

While you take care of a disabled individual or an elderly person, it is of utmost importance that you are adhering to the correct lifting procedures at all times. Using proper lifting techniques can help prevent injury.

Caregivers are at greatest risk for injury when they are:

-         Pulling a person who is reclining in bed into a sitting position.

-         Transferring a person from a bed to a wheelchair.

-         Leaning over a person for long periods of time.

Some general guidelines to follow when you need to lift or move a person include:

-         Ensure your head and neck is in proper alignment with your spine.

-         Always try not to bend at your waist and maintain the natural curve of your spine.

-         When carrying someone, remember to avoid twisting your body.

-         Always keep the person who is being moved close to your body.

-         Your feet shoulder-width should be kept apart to maintain your balance.

-         Instead of putting pressure on your entire body, the muscles in your legs should be used to lift and/or pull.

As a support worker or carer, you help the person you care for, with many activities. Understanding what you need to do, and what help you can get, can make your life easier.

At My Support Champion, we help you find people looking for support and care in your local area, whether you are looking to provide Personal Care or Live-in Care. Contact us at info@mysupportchampion.com.au. It is free to join, so why don’t you give it a go.

Ideally when people don’t have time or skills to take care of their loved ones, they would then need to employ the services and expertise of a support worker or caregiver.  However, finding the perfect support worker or carer is not something that can be easily done. That’s because there are lots of compulsory details that must be looked at in order to make sure that you employ the best person to the job for your loved one.

Below is a list of all the necessary qualities that the care giver you intend to hire must have. Once you identify these characteristics then you are on the right direction.

-         Empathetic

The support worker or carer should be empathetic at all times. This is one of the most important qualities that anyone providing care for the elderly or disabled must have. Ageing is a difficult and confusing process for seniors. They find it a tough challenge to overcome, as well. If you are finding a support worker to take care of your seniors, you need to make sure that they remain empathetic at all times as this will help them to be able to understand the emotions and struggles that the seniors are facing.

-         Respectful

It is also important for a support worker to remain respectful at all times as well. When a person is ageing, the mental capacity and independence of that person will reduce. Due to the same reason, they can easily feel like they are being a bother or nuisance to the person caring for them. While taking care of a senior, the support workers or caregivers should understand that they are offering assistance to someone who was once physically fit and able to stand on his/her feet with strength and agility.  Hence there is a need to remain respectful and courteous.

-         Patience

It is a critical characteristic for a caregiver to learn the act of patience because in numerous situations this would be tested unconsciously on the job. By being patient at the situation and acting rationally, the caregiver would be able to overcome any form of aggression, irritability, and frustration. Along with patience, he should be able to handle the situation calmly as well. In fact, the caregiver or support worker should never get resentful or flustered.

-         Reliability

People who receive care rely heavily on their caregivers. This is why it is so important to them that their caregivers and support workers are reliable and dependable at all times. The caregiver or support worker is responsible for making sure that the client has adequate food and fluid intake, makes appointments to the doctor on time, and takes their medication on time (if applicable). If the caregiver is not reliable, the client will miss out on these things which can cause serious detriments to their health and wellbeing.

-         Professional

Support workers and caregivers often come across challenging situations. In all those challenging situations, it is expected that the caregiver should act professionally at all times, only then will they be able to provide the highest level of care and assistance needed. In this role, it involves lots of personal cares like assistance with using the toilet, wound dressing, and or pad change during menstrual cycle. These are sensitive situations and the caregiver needs to remain professional and make sure that the person who receives the care doesn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed at that moment.

-         Caring

Last but not least, you must ensure that the support worker or carer is a naturally caring individual. While this might sound obvious, most people ignore it while looking for the right individual. The caregivers and support workers should not think that they are just doing a job but must understand that they will need to genuinely care for their client. By being caring, it would be reflected in everything they do even when it is clearly inconvenient.

Finally,

Most people do not have the time to properly screen people before employing them to care for their loved ones and this mostly unfortunately always cause dire consequences. That is why at My Support Champion we vet every single person to the highest standards – screening for traits, values, experience and qualifications. We do all the hard work, to make sure, that in the end; it is only a champion that is supporting your loved ones in need of care.

According to recent research, it has been identified that a considerable percentage of caregivers end up with carer stress and burnout. This is a major situation, which should not be ignored. That’s why we have compiled this article where we share tips on how to deal with carer stress and burnout in an effective manner.

What exactly is carer stress and burnout?

While offering services to a client, a carer will have to go through numerous mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting situations. These situations can make that person feel overwhelmed. Along with that, most times they will feel unappreciated, unsupported, and alone. That's where caregiver stress and burnout kicks in.

Carer stress and burnout is not uncommon, in fact all carers will experience it at some point. In such a situation, it is important to address the issue accordingly. Otherwise, the carer will not be able to offer professional services to the vulnerable person who is in need.

There are a few signs and symptoms, which can easily indicate that a carer is experiencing stress and burnout. The prominent signs and symptoms are:

• Exhaustion
• Depression
• Avoiding people
• Anxiety
• Lack of energy
• Irritability
• Feeling of lack of control over life
• Failure to prioritize own health and wellbeing.

How to deal with carer stress and burnout?

If you are a carer who experiences the above-mentioned signs, you should understand that you are not alone and need to reach out for support or help. On your journey to recovery back to your normal self, here are some useful tips that you can follow in order to deal with carer stress and burnout quickly and effectively.

• Ask for support.

You need to keep in mind that you don’t really have to do everything on your own. It is perfectly fine for you to ask for support from family members and friends.  Alternatively organizations such as Beyond Blue and Lifeline Australia offer free help and support to all Australians wherever they live or whatever their age.

You don’t have to feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for support from others, because caregiver burnout is a symptom that all caregivers will experience, unless thoroughly handled. Hence, you must think about it as something ordinary and request for support in a timely manner before it gets worse. While asking for support from a friend, family member, or even a support group, you should talk about what you are going through. This way you will be able to receive much-needed assistance in the right aspect. Trying to handle everything by yourself and bottling up emotions could lead to serious health risks including depression.

• Always be honest with yourself.

It is important for you to remain honest with yourself by understanding the things that you can do and those that you cannot do. It is compulsory to only stick to those tasks that you have the skills and expertise for. When you feel that a task assigned to you is too stressful or out of your scope of practice, you should learn how to say NO.

• Take regular breaks

As a caregiver, you will have to provide continuous support. However, it is also important to be mindful of the situations where you are overwhelmed with work and unable to take a break as this can easily trigger burnout. It is important to have breaks in between your shift to refresh and relax your feet. Ideally there should be 15minutes break in every 4 hours shift. This will help to relieve the stress, restore lost energy and regain the power that is needed to provide an efficient job.

• Seek advice from other caregivers

It is recommended to seek the advice and expertise of caregivers that have been in the profession for a long time. They would have / are experiencing carer stress or burnout and will have some tips and techniques on how to overcome them.

Take home message,

Carer stress or burnout is real, however you are not alone. Do not leave it till the last minute. As soon as you start feeling a change in your health and well-being, talk to friends or family members and share your feelings.

The health and well-being of our caregivers and support workers at My Support Champion is our top priority as they are the backbone of our organization. As a caregiver, you are free to reach out to us at anytime to share or express what you are going through and we would always work with you in the best way possible.  

Even though the entire world is in lockdown mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for care and assistance, is still of pivotal importance for the vulnerable in our community, such as senior citizens and the physically disabled individuals.

Considering that these same people are the most vulnerable against this virus, it is important that support workers or caregivers, take all the necessary precautions to protect them. It is equally important for support workers or caregivers to employ appropriate strategies and habits, which ensures their own health and wellbeing is looked after, while providing care for the individuals who rely on them. Along with that, the risk associated with caregiver burnout, will need to be controlled, while preventing the spread of the deadly virus.

Here are some useful tips that support workers or caregivers can keep in mind to ensure their safety and that of their clients during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Tip 1: Take appropriate measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

The very first thing to note is that you need to be consciously aware to take appropriate measures to curtail the spread of the virus.

One such measure is proper hand washing, as well as obeying the 5 moments of hand hygiene. They are:

1.     before touching a client,

2.     before clean/aseptic procedures,

3.     after body fluid exposure/risk,

4.     after touching a client, and

5.     after touching client surroundings

In fact, it is encouraged to make it a habit to wash your hands at least once an hour for 20 seconds as is recommended by WHO for effective hand washing. Likewise, if you blow your nose, use the toilet, or sneeze; you must immediately wash your hands or alternatively use hand sanitizer.

You should also take appropriate steps when traveling to and from crowded places. In fact, appropriate changes must be introduced to your day to day lifestyle, so that you refrain from visiting crowded places that could put you at risk of contracting COVID-19. If you must, then maintain social distancing at all times to at least 1.5 meters.

Tip 2: Stay informed about the virus.

All support workers and caregivers should strive to remain informed about the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic both globally and locally. Being informed ensures you are knowledgeable on the dos and don’ts as well as eradicates any cause of panic.

Keeping informed means only following updates from reliable and authorized sources and not social media. However, there should be a limit on how much time you spend listening to the news because an overload could be emotionally and mentally overwhelming.

Tip 3: Take good care of yourself.

You must take good care of yourself throughout this period and always. If you are not mentally, physically and emotionally sound, you will not be able to offer good care to your client.

Some tips on looking after yourself are:

·        Eating a balanced diet

·        Maintaining a good sleep routine

·        Exercising regularly

·        Knowing your limits and expertise

·        Speaking up when necessary

·        Practicing self-care

Tip 4: Watch out for stress or burnout

You must always keep an eye out for any signs of burnout or caregiver stress. Caregiver burnout is impossible to ignore and the chances of ending up with caregiver burnout will increase significantly during the times of pandemic due to numerous reasons such as heavy workload, panic, and even short-staffed. That’s why it is important for you to keep an eye for the signs and make sure that this is looked at immediately.

Some of the most common signs of caregiver burnout include anxiety, depression, insomnia, hopelessness, and difficulties in coping with normal job responsibilities. Once these signs are noticed, it is important to seek help and support on how to relieve the pressure. Organizations such as Beyond Blue and Lifeline Australia offer free help and support to all Australians wherever they live or whatever their age.

Finally,

It is important to remember that whilst these tips and guidelines are helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic, they can also be useful for any occasion. Therefore, keep them in mind so you can continue to be the champion companion that you are.