We all have that relative who in times of crisis has a checklist of what should be done. And although we might mock them, many are happy to know what needs to be done and how they can pitch in. In previous posts I have discussed how important it is for both family and professional caregivers to make sure they are taking care of themselves.
Many baby boomers are facing the prospect of how to care for aging parents. For adult children whose parents require assistance with activities of daily living (e.g. buying groceries, preparing meals or maintaining the household) this website can be very useful in helping establish a network where everyone can volunteer for assignments so that for example groceries aren't purchased twice in one day or so everyone doesn't visit Granny on Sunday, leaving her alone the rest of the week.
Family members of seniors might also find this helpful in arranging for someone to stop by and check in on their loved one. Has the senior dressed properly for the day? Does he or she need breakfast to be made for them? Scheduling tasks through another person can help pick up the dinner shift and help with bathing.
This type of coordination can augment the service provided by home care agencies, particularly if the aides are only on duty for a few hours every day. Perhaps best of all the service is free and the website is fairly intuitive. The process takes less time than a phone call on the volunteer side, but the administrator (e. g. you) has to be fairly on-task with what needs doing.
A calendar shows whether help is needed or if all needs are met on a particular day. You can even scroll ahead and offer specific services. I think this is a brilliant concept I mean, how many times have you wanted to help someone, but just were unsure of what to do? Also, most families have members with more free time than others.
We often do not phone relatives for help as we figure they are probably just too busy and that someone else will take care of it. But giving everyone a chance to know what is needed and what they can do is not just democratic it is downright helpful and as caregivers isn't that the point?
As always I look forward to your comments and would love to know more if anyone has used the service and found other glowing points or even something that could be better in regard to this fantastic new resource.
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