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 where they need to be isn’t always easy with everything else on your “plate.” And although it’s a labor of love, serving as a family caregiver can be a physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting undertaking. 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.
Do You Have Caregiver Fatigue?
No matter how good of a shape you’re in, the average family caregiver eventually feels overworked and overwhelmed. There are days when it seems like no matter how hard you try, your loved one’s condition keeps getting worse. When that happens, the tendency is to invest more and more time into their care. If you’re not careful, those emotional ups and downs can trigger caregiver fatigue or even full-blown burnout.
The warning signs of caregiver fatigue include:
- 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
What Is Respite Care?
Caring for an elderly, sick, or disabled family member can be a 24-hour 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 for them to be, whether it’s for a few hours, days, weeks, or longer.
Where Can I Find Respite Care?
Once caregiver fatigue sets in, it can place the health and well-being of you and your fellow family members at risk. Personal relationships can also suffer as patience grows thin and childhood conflicts resurface.
To stay refreshed, your caregiver’s “game plan” should include these backup sources:
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.
Community resources
Many communities offer free programs and services specifically designed to give overworked family caregivers a break. 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.
Senior-friendly transportation
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 also a reliable way to cross one more thing off your caregiving “to-do” list.
Professional respite caregivers
Like other forms of elder care, in-home respite care relies on the assistance of professional caregivers that 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 or skilled nursing care.
In general, professional in-home respite caregivers are highly trained to perform 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
Quality In-Home Respite Care for Seniors in Littleton, CO
When it’s time to take a well-deserved break, contact Assisting Hands® Home Care in Littleton, CO. Our company was founded on the principles of caring for others in a way that we would also want to be cared for. While providing services to anyone in any situation that makes living independently more difficult, our mission is to help clients remain happy and at home. In addition to assisting with normal, everyday activities, our caregivers also have training and experience in providing more intensive home health care.
Our certified, bonded, and insured professionals have the compassion and skills necessary to help you overcome the challenges your loved one and family may be facing. Our service plans are individualized to meet your family’s needs, from hourly to 24-hour, around-the-clock care. To learn more about our in-home services or schedule a free personalized assessment for a senior in Littleton, CO, today, please visit Assisting Hands® Home Care at www.assistinghands.com/94/colorado/littleton/
