When you’re busy juggling your responsibilities as a caregiver, the prospect of taking a break sounds wonderful. However, you should know respite care provides more to you and your family than just an hour or two away from your duties. These benefits of respite care prove just how important it is for both your aging loved one and your family to have a professional caregiver who can provide you all with a break.
Maintains Safety
Your loved one’s safety should always come first, and you likely started helping out to protect your loved one from having accidents around the house. However, you may not always be able to be there to stop your loved one from climbing a ladder or forgetting to turn off the oven. Respite care gives you the option of having someone stay with your loved one while you handle other important responsibilities. This way, you can step out for the day while knowing your loved one is safe.
A trained professional caregiver can be an extremely valuable member of your caregiving team. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional senior home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Lowers the Risk of Developing a Major Health Condition
Family caregivers have a higher risk of developing health issues than other members of the population. Being stressed out lowers your immune system and leaves you vulnerable to many common illnesses. You may also make rash decisions when you’re stressed out, such as not paying attention to lifting your loved one properly, which can lead to injuries that prevent you from being able to continue to provide care. Taking breaks to rest can help you rebuild your immune system. You can also use respite time to go to the doctor or do other things to increase your health, such as working out.
Preserves Positive Family Relationships
There’s nothing worse than asking family members for help and being turned down, but it often happens to caregivers. Your family may want to help, but they may also have places to be that are important, such as work or their children’s school events. The members of your family may also all need to be at the same place at the same time, such as to celebrate a birthday, when your loved one is too ill to attend.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated at-home care, Tucson, AZ, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
Gives Seniors Another Source of Socialization
Your loved one cares about you, but you simply shouldn’t be his or her only source of socialization. Spending time with others can give your loved one’s mood a boost and remind your parent that he or she has an extensive support network. While you take your respite, your loved one gets to build a relationship with someone new, which is also important for preventing depression and feelings of isolation.
Opens Up Opportunities for Growth
You and your loved one can learn a lot from the new caregiver. While they provide respite, professional caregivers often find ways to help seniors be more independent. They may suggest using assistive devices or initiate new activities that promote better brain health. You may also find your ability to solve problems that arise increases once you’re able to function with a more relaxed mindset.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Tucson families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your parent, give us a call at (520) 276-6555 today.