Household Duties Issue 19

ATTENTION!

HOUSEHOLD DUTIES VOLUME II will end at Issue 20, August 2023.

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A Mile in Their Shoes

More than likely, you lead a very busy life. In between taking care of others and working, you may or may not have time for yourself. It's hard to walk a mile in someone else's shoes when you hardly have time to walk in your own. Read more...

Journaling

As if you don't have enough things to do, where are you going to find the time to write about your day? Strange as it may sound, journaling actually helps you to disperse feelings that would otherwise be pent up inside and could cause problems in the future.

By taking some time each day (5 minutes or so to start), journaling about the day, your attitude, or even the blessings you found may be a good place to start. Sometimes journaling provides relief in the present moment, and sometimes it offers encouragement at a later date.

I didn't write out full entries. Sometimes it was just a gratefulness list for the day. It would be enough to know that I could still find a silver lining in the cloudy sky.

Risk-Proof the House

I've heard of baby-proofing the house, but risk-proofing? When caring for your parents, there are certain details to keep in mind. The elderly tend to shuffle their feet more, so rugs, mats, and area rugs increase the fall-risk. Remove these in high-traffic areas.

On the other hand, they may need a heavy non-slip at by their bed, especially if they wear socks. And remember a non-slip mat for the shower floor. Wet floors are slippery for the elderly.

Since they tire easily, having a chair (or two) in every room (and even the hallway) would be handy. They may need to rest between rooms. Chairs should be kept tidy and free of the temptation of drop-off stations. Arm rests would be a good idea for those who struggle with imbalance/vertigo issues; they decrease the chances of falling out or off the chair.

Keep toilet paper in an easy to reach area in the bathroom. The same goes for facial tissue in the living room or bedroom and napkins in the dining room. Trash cans should be close by but not in the way of walking.

Eye Contact

Making eye contact is important to our parents. Not only do we give them our full attention, but it lets them know that they matter to us. Eye contact communicates acknowledgment, validation, attention, and/or a "we care" attitude.

When your parent is talking, chit-chatting, or complaining, make sure you make eye contact to let them know that you are listening. They are being heard.

If necessary, put your phone down, leave it on vibrate (or silence) for a little while and focus your attention on your parent, including eye contact.