DIY lessons in Caregiving – Part 1 – Planning ahead

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of DIY (do-it-yourself) projects around my house. While doing these different projects I have come to realize several caregiving insights. So I have put together a 3 part series to share caregiving insights from my DIY projects.

Planning ahead is helpful
Having the right tools is crucial
Asking for help can make a big difference in the outcome

Planning Ahead

For many of my projects I figure I will just improvise and more than likely any tools or supplies I need I can re-purpose from something I already have or I am sure I have the right tool somewhere in the garage. Though improvisation can be hilarious at a comedy club, when doing a DIY project more often than not it ends in frustration quickly lead to becoming overwhelmed with the project. Unfortunately I am not as adept as one might think to actually plan out what I might need for the next project the culmination of which is insanity, doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Unfortunately this type of behavior doesn’t just manifest itself in DIY projects. Many caregivers I know live in a constant state of reaction to changes/challenges in their loved one’s health status leading to “improvising” very important decisions because they didn’t prepare for potential issues.

Lessons learned:

Plan ahead for what you think you may need and then be flexible when new needs arise.

This sounds reasonable, however, if you don’t even know where to start this can seem overwhelming and lead you right back to your make it up as you go along style of caregiving.

I also realize that in our busy world, if something isn’t happening immediately, there isn’t a sense of urgency to know about resources available for the “what if’s” in life. Unfortunately neglected “what if” planning can lead to uninformed reactionary decision-making when a crisis strikes.

The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. There are preparations that can be made TODAY for the “what if’s” in life.

See my post “What If” to help you start planning ahead today

Also visit Strategic Caregiving for more insights

Check back next week for DIY lessons in Caregiving – Part 2 – Having the right tools.

Just for fund here are some of my DIY projects:

About Sue Salach

Sue has a Master's degree in Gerontology and has worked with the elderly and their families for over 30 years and is the Author of "Along Comes Grandpa", a caregiving resource guide, and the novel "If I Walked in Her Shoes". As an ElderCare Expert and Keynote Speaker, Sue employs her comprehensive experience and passion, to educate and promote self-care values to family caregivers and the community at large.

View all posts by Sue Salach →

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