Being part of a family caring for an aging-in-place friend or relative often takes a team approach. Helping an elderly loved one manage a household or get to their appointments on time can be stressful with everything else on your “plate.” And although it’s a labor of love, serving as a family caregiver can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting even on the best days. No matter what role you find yourself playing within the caregiving continuum, here’s why respite care should be an essential part of your family’s overall elder care plan.
Caregiver Fatigue Warning Signs
No matter how healthy and fit they are, most family caregivers eventually feel overworked, overstressed, and overwhelmed. There are days when it seems like no matter how hard you try, your loved one’s condition worsens. When that happens, the tendency is to try harder while investing more and more time into their care. If you’re not careful, those emotional ups and downs can lead to caregiver fatigue or even full-blown burnout.
The warning signs of caregiver fatigue include these:
- Feeling mentally and physically drained all the time
- Sleeping not enough or too much
- Anxiety and depression
- Constantly feeling worried or overwhelmed
- Disinterest in activities once enjoyed
- Lack of exercise
- Rapid weight loss or gain
- Substance abuse, including prescription meds
Where Respite Care Comes In
Caring for an elderly, sick, or disabled family member can be a full-time job. Every so often, you’ll need to take some time off to tend to your own needs. Respite care is a commonly used term that describes a temporary break for caregivers. Those caregiving breaks can be as long or short as you need them to be, whether it’s for a few hours, days, weeks, or longer.
Respite Care Resources for Tired Caregivers
Once fatigue sets in, the health and well-being of all caregivers could be in jeopardy. Personal relationships can also suffer as patience grows thin and childhood conflicts resurface. Thankfully, preventing caregiver fatigue is possible by taking advantage of these respite care resources:
Community programs
Many communities offer free programs and services specifically designed to give overworked family caregivers a break. A list of those can be found through the ARCH National Respite Network Locator. You can also access community respite care resources via the Family Care Navigator or your local chapter of the Agency on Aging.
Adult daycare
For a fee, adult daycare centers cater to seniors by providing light assistance with normal, day-to-day activities like nutritious meals, elder-friendly transportation, and socialization. The level of care provided varies by center, as some adult daycare facilities even offer comprehensive medical and therapeutic services.
Senior transportation services
Losing their driving privileges can deal a significant blow to your aging loved one’s freedom and independence – giving you one more thing to worry about. Thankfully, many larger communities offer public transportation and paratransit services for elderly riders at discounted rates. Setting up your senior with a ride-sharing service is another reliable way to cross one more thing off your caregiving “to-do” list.
Professional respite care
Like other types of elder care, in-home respite care relies on the assistance of professional caregivers who provide a wide range of personal care services to support aging or ill adults and their families. Respite care needs vary, from a few hours a day or week to 24-hour and live-in care.
Most professional in-home respite caregivers are trained to provide these services:
- Light personal care, such as bathing and grooming
- Socialization, including conversation and companionship
- Food shopping, meal preparation, and cleanup
- Running errands
- Light housework
- Transportation
- Medication management
Family Trusted In-Home Respite Care for Seniors in Lexington, MA
Finding someone trustworthy to care for an aging-in-place loved one can be challenging. At Assisting Hands Home Care, our professional in-home senior care services allow clients in Lexington, Bedford, and surrounding communities in the Northwest Boston area to remain safely and comfortably in their own homes. Our trained, dependable caregivers and personal assistants can help your family overcome its eldercare challenges while making your loved one’s home an even better place to be.
Our turnkey home care services include everything from companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, and transportation to light housekeeping, laundry, and personal care assistance with bathing and dressing. Our customized in-home solutions have covered your family from a few hours a day to around-the-clock care. Click here to learn more about Assisting Hands Home Care or schedule a free consultation for a senior in Lexington, MA.
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