You chose to be a family caregiver to give your senior loved one the support he or she needs to thrive. When you signed up for your role, one of the last things you might have considered is that you also need support. Family caregivers who can rely on multiple sources of assistance can also enhance the lives of their aging loved ones.
1. Continue to Meet Your Prior Responsibilities
Before you became a caregiver, you likely had other things going on in your life that required your attention. You might have children who need your guidance as they grow. Your spouse may also need your help at home. Working, continuing your education, and volunteering are a few more things you may have had going on before now. While you can handle these things as a family caregiver, it’s much easier to do when you have help. For instance, a home caregiver can fill in while you attend a work meeting or help your kids with their homework.
2. Save Your Knees & Back
Support isn’t always emotional. Caregiving is physically demanding, and simply being a caregiver increases your risk of having an injury. Once your loved one needs help with mobility, you need to consider your ability to assist him or her without being hurt yourself. Having a second person available makes it possible to team lift so you preserve your back and joints from the effects of too much strain.
3. Carve Out Time for Self-Care
Every caregiver needs time to rest and recuperate. However, you might not get it unless you’re proactive about taking time out for yourself. Respite care gives you the opportunity to talk to a counselor, take a bath, or just wander around a park for a few hours. Knowing you have this time coming up also helps you make it through rough moments during the week.
Caring for an elderly loved one is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. When researching agencies that provide senior home care, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance.
4. Learn New Strategies for Senior Care
There’s no single road map for caregivers to follow, but you can learn from other people’s experiences. Professional caregivers are a wonderful resource you can turn to for ideas to help your loved one out. You can also learn from members of support groups for family caregivers who are in similar situations.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Montgomery home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
5. Feel Emotionally Stronger
Sometimes you just need to know you’re not alone. Having a network of support means you can quickly reach out for help with just a phone call or email. While you may not have to use it too often in the early stages of caregiving, you’ll feel more confident just knowing it’s there
6. Spend More Time Enjoying Your Loved One’s Company
These precious years together are a time when you need to be able to enjoy bonding with your loved one. Feeling as though seeing your loved one each day is a drudgery or developing resentment over your duties are signs you need to step back a bit. Arranging for support in your loved one’s home lets you enjoy simple things that bring more joy to your relationship. With the right type of support, you can play a game with your loved one or tell stories together without fretting over whether the house is clean.
Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Montgomery, AL, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (334) 593-3988 to learn more about our high-quality home care services.