When an elder loved one can no longer take care of themselves in their own home, it’s common for family members to step in and help. However, the role of family caregiver is stressful, frustrating and often endless. In no time, the family caregiver is exhausted and stressed, plus dealing with guilt and resentment. At times like these, family caregivers need to consider respite care.
Respite care is when family members hire a professional home care provider to help with daily tasks for home care and self-care. They can assist with many tasks, like laundry, housekeeping, and pet care. Home care providers are also able to help seniors with things like bathing, dressing and grooming. They can even provide transportation to medical appointments and errands.
Here are 5 reasons why respite care using a home care provider is crucial for a family caregiver’s health and wellness:
1. Sharing the Burden of Care
There simply are not enough hours in a day for a family caregiver to take care of their own families, jobs and personal responsibilities along with the full-time care of an elderly relative. What often ends up happening is that the family caregiver puts their aging loved one’s needs first and lets other things go. Relationships, careers and their own health suffer when family caregivers try to juggle everything related to elder care.
2. Reduced Stress
Chronic stress is a real part of family caregiving, but when there is no respite, caregivers can suffer the consequences. Chronic stress can lead to insomnia, high blood pressure, weakened immune system, weight loss or gain and more. Family caregivers can also experience mental health issues due to chronic stress like anxiety and depression. Hiring a home care provider is the best way to ensure regular breaks and time away from their responsibilities.
3. Less Guilt
Family caregivers juggle a lot of things, and when they can’t give their aging loved one all the time and attention they deserve, it can trigger massive amounts of guilt. Knowing that an elderly relative is in the hands of a caring professional who is trained to work with seniors can relieve a lot of guilty feelings in family caregivers. Less guilt can equal less stress as well.
4. Positive Effect on Relationships
Switching from family member to family caregiver can be hard for everyone involved as the nature of the relationship changes. Tension, hurt feelings, confusion, and changing roles can bring a lot of imbalance to a previously happy relationship between an elderly person and a family member. Respite care allows those natural relationships to thrive because they get to spend some time apart.
5. It’s Best for the Elderly Adult
When a family caregiver is the sole caretaker, the elderly person must wait for them to get around to doing everything. Family caregivers may be distracted by other responsibilities or must postpone helping their elderly relative until after work. With a home care provider, the aging adult gets the help they need, when they need it.
Call Today To Learn How We Support Caregivers Like You
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare Services as a way to assist a family caregiver, please contact the caring staff at ActivePro Nursing & Homecare Inc. Call our office in Toronto at (647) 793-2525.