When the caregiver gets sick

Today, as I fight off a bad sore throat, I am thinking about the problems that face caregivers when they get sick. You can't exactly care for your care recipient when you are ill, so you should be ready for something like that before hand.

Make sure that you have a printout of medications (like you would take the doctor), on hand for a substitute caregiver so they know what your care recipient is taking and include a list of when each is taken and the dosage.


Also, it is idea to have someone that knows your routine so they know how to do things such as assist your care recipient in and out of the bathroom or from bed to a chair and vice versa.

Have a ready to go doctor visiting 'kit' just in case your illness coincides with your care recipient needing to visit the doctor and make sure that your chosen substitute for taking them knows what needs to be done when they get there.

And remember. It can be hard sometimes to step back and let someone else take over, but you won't be doing your care recipient any favors if you pass the flu off to them. Take care of yourself and take care of your loved one.