It is self-evident that today's seniors live much longer than seniors of previous eras due to improved living conditions, the development of medical technology, and modern people's high interest in health management. Being able to live a long life and reach old age is something to be thankful for, but there are many longevity risks facing seniors in many ways. So we need to take care of some important issues before we move beyond a super-aged society and into a caregiving society. Becoming a caregiver for an elderly parent or other loved one at home because they get sick starts with good intentions and moral obligations to care for my loved one in the home where the patient feels comfortable. However, over time, everything becomes difficult and you experience mental pressure due to the burden of never being able to relax. Because caregiving is about caring for people, unlike caring for plants or animals, there must be no failure. So the burden on the mind is much greater than other objects of care. Most caregiving is often done alone. So it is easy to feel lonely and mentally exhausted. If you have no caregiving experience, it is very difficult to make medical decisions. There is no way to avoid financial pressure when caregiving is prolonged. Caregiving becomes even harder without support from surroundings. In addition, problems that make caregivers difficult can arise in unexpected situations. Caregivers need to find and prevent what makes them difficult, and other family members need to identify caregivers' problems and support them to solve them together. The problems caregivers face are diverse.
1. Lack of Privacy
Everyone in a caregiving family needs privacy, the freedom to rest comfortably in their own space. Having privacy of physical space means having boundaries where everyone in the house can escape from the 24/7 caregiving situation. However, it is especially difficult when the house is small and there is no place to rest, or when the cohabiting senior has dementia. For example, in the case of dementia patients like Alzheimer's, they may barge into bedrooms and bathrooms where family members are resting due to loss of social appropriateness. Not only privacy of physical space but also mental privacy is needed. Having mental privacy means being able to continue to feel the time and freedom unique to the family that has been settled for a long time.
Caring for a patient is important, but it must be balanced with the risk that other family members may feel their privacy is being ignored regardless of their will. However, the reality in many families is that the time and energy spent on caregiving often requires family sacrifice as needed. This can be the biggest problem for caregivers. Necessary renovations should be made so that the patient has a sleeping space as well as a space for the caregiver (TV set, comfortable chair, desk).
2. Sleep Deprivation
Disputes may arise among family members over caregiving methods or costs. Conflicts should be resolved through honest conversation, understanding, and consideration of each other's positions.
6. Guilt and Anger
It is easy to feel guilty when you get annoyed at the patient or feel that caregiving is hard. Acknowledge that these emotions are natural and forgive yourself.
7. Deterioration of Your Own Health
Caregivers often fail to take care of their own health while caring for the patient. The caregiver must be healthy to care for the patient well. Take care of your health with regular checkups and exercise.