The challenges associated with caregiving can become so overwhelming they lead to caregiver burnout. This physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion can be so extreme it causes severe problems that affect you, your siblings, and your dependent loved ones. To find balance and alleviate caregiver-related stress, your family should use in-home respite care. Here are some reasons respite care is essential, both for seniors and their family family caregivers.
1. Self-Care
While you may be younger than your loved one, you’re still at risk of developing common conditions related to chronic stress, such as heart disease and depression. When you neglect your healthcare needs, you increase the risk of these issues or worse. With respite care, you’ll receive temporary relief from stress-related activities and free time to focus on your self-care needs.
If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Edmonton 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.
2. Affordability
Respite care is affordable because seniors only need to pay for the time they use. With nursing home facilities, seniors generally need to pay for time or services they don’t use. These facilities don’t break down plans into a couple of days each month or an occasional overnight stay. Instead, they may have price schedules for full-time and part-time care, which can be expensive.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated at-home care, Edmonton, AB, 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.
3. Fall & Infection Prevention
Falls are one of the top risks associated with older adults. Decreasing bone health and diminished vision put them at risk of falling down stairs, bumping into furniture, or slipping in the shower. Being inside the home with your loved one at all times isn’t always possible, especially if things come up at work or you need to handle errands or projects for your school-aged children. To reduce the risk of broken bones or accidents and injuries that lead to traumas and infections, you can use respite care for the times you need to leave your loved one alone.
4. New Perspective
Taking a temporary break from your caregiver duties allows you to reevaluate the role as well as your loved one’s current care plan. The fresh perspective can enhance your caregiving skills and strengthen your relationships with your loved one and your siblings. Having an unbiased person voice an opinion on the situation could also give your parent a new perspective on how he or she views your hard work. The respite caregiver can explain how much you sacrifice and help your loved one see the value in your act of selflessness.
5. At-Home Options
Moving closer to you or into an assisted living facility may not be your loved one’s preferences, making respite care a viable option. The services can start out a few days each week or month and change as your loved one’s care needs change. In the meantime, your loved one can remain in the comfort of home, surrounded by friends and familiar settings, which can increase longevity and boost overall health.
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 manage if their families opt for professional elderly home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place. Call Home Care Assistance at (780) 490-7337 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.