Managing time is an essential caregiving skill
Time is precious when you’re caring for an older adult. There’s so much to do, both for them and for you, and only 24 hours in a day.
Amy Goyer, AARP’s family caregiving expert, has plenty of experience getting more done with less stress. She’s learned essential time management skills through real-life experience.
Amy has spent more than 35 years juggling work and caring for her grandparents, parents, sister, and other relatives and friends.
She has written extensively for AARP about her experiences caring for her mother, who died in 2013, and her father, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease for 12 years before his death in 2018.
In this article for AARP, Amy shares her 10 best time management tips for caregivers. We highlight the key points from her article here and also add our perspective.
10 expert time management tips for caregivers
1. Schedule “me” time first
There’s so much to do for your older adult that “me” time usually falls to the bottom of your to do list.
But we can’t be effective caregivers if we’ve got nothing left to give. A car that has zero gas in the tank simply cannot keep going and neither can we.
To be able to care for others, we have to care for ourselves first – it’s not selfish, it’s practical.
The key is to schedule in some time for yourself first, don’t expect it to just happen.
Hire some help, ask a family member or friend, or get respite care so you can take time away to do something that restores you.
2. Plan ahead
Planning saves time and reduces stress in the long run.
For example, a few minutes spent reviewing upcoming doctor appointments makes sure you or someone else is confirmed to accompany mom. This means avoiding last minute scrambles and having a chance to schedule work, errands, or “me” time.
Or, regularly check medications and essential supplies so you have a chance to get more before running out.
