Caregiver Tips: Millions of people act as family caregivers in the United States each year.
They look after elderly parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, and aunts or uncles, and sometimes even close friends. Even though they want to do this, it is done out of an act of love, it is still necessary to get a break from the caregiving responsibilities. Senior care is a wonderful option to consider when you need some time off, even if it’s just a few hours each week. See below for some caregiver tips to help you get some respite time.
Keep in mind that everyone needs time off. We need weekends, holidays, vacations, and an opportunity to rest our bodies, our minds, and feel renewed.
Senior care is a wonderful option that allows family caregivers, friends, and others who support aging loved ones to have time off, either to exercise, to simply relax, to get a better night’s sleep, or to not have to worry every day about rushing over to this senior’s house before or after work or in the gaps in a quickly narrowing schedule.
What is the best senior care option available for these family caregivers?
That would be in-home care. A home care aide is a person who can step in and support an aging person in the comfort of their home. Aging in place, as it is referred to, is the most preferred option among elderly men and women who may need some type of assistance.
Why might a senior need support?
There could be any number of reasons, including, but not limited to, chronic health issues. As people get older, there is an increased likelihood they may face certain health challenges.
Whether it’s fighting cancer, dealing with Parkinson’s disease, having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, or even the loss of strength due to the natural process of aging, seniors may need help with even the most basic tasks of everyday life, either ongoing or temporarily.
This type of help might include assistance getting out of bed. It might include help getting into and out of the shower. The senior might need assistance getting dressed, preparing a meal, or even just getting to a doctor’s appointment once a week or several times a month.
Caregiver Tips: When a senior needs significant care throughout the week, the family will need help, too.
The more support and assistance an aging person needs during the week, the more pressure this places on the family caregiver. When that happens, that family member is going to need help, otherwise, they run an increasing risk of burning out, getting frustrated, and wanting to give up.
Yet, that loved one isn’t going to give up on this senior, so before he or she reaches their breaking point, turn to senior care.
Through a home care agency, an individual can hire an aide for just a couple of hours at a time. That could be the nice break a family member needs once a week. But, they also might realize that senior care can help them for more than just once-a-week visits. Use the caregiver tips above to ensure good caregiver health.
