Respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers to achieve a healthy life balance.
Fulfilling the care needs of an elderly or disabled loved one is a psychologically, physically, and emotionally demanding undertaking, and it’s crucial for family caregivers to take regular breaks to rest and relax to achieve a healthy life balance. Respite care provides relief from the daily obligations of caregiving, permitting family caregivers to also care for their own needs.
Below are several basic principles of respite care:
- Respite from day-to-day, ongoing care tasks ensures older adults still get the care they need and deserve.
- Respite care provides family caregivers with care that is planned, temporary, intermittent and substitute.
- Respite care can be provided from several hours for just one day to regularly scheduled routine relief.
How you can help a family caregiver:
- Offer to share caregiving duties. Even if you are only available to help out once in a while, it shows the family caregiver that you care about his or her wellness.
- Offer to assist with the family caregiver’s personal chores. Family caregivers have lives of their own, and taking time to take care of their own laundry, grocery shopping, and housework chores can be tricky.
- Pitch in for respite care services from a professional home care agency, like Endeavor In Home Care. Often, family members who live at a distance want to contribute to a loved one’s care. Helping to pay for respite care services helps not only the senior, but the family caregiver as well.
How family caregivers can find necessary support:
- Ask for help. Other family members are often available to help with caregiving, but are unsure what help is needed. Include them in the respite care plan so you can take time off when needed.
- When family members are unavailable, schedule respite care with a home care agency, like Endeavor In Home Care, a provider of non-medical home care in Phoenix, AZ and the surrounding areas. Professional caregivers can help family care providers take the time away that they need while providing quality care for their older loved ones.
- Talk to the person in your care. Changing up the daily routine, such as by introducing a new caregiver, can be stressful for the senior, so take the steps below to alleviate any concerns:
- Have a respite care plan ready to go in advance.
- Remind the senior regularly that your break is coming up and someone will be coming to help him/her.
- Introduce the older person to the new caregiver if he/she is not someone the senior already knows.
- Stick to your plan. Taking routine breaks from caregiving is crucial to your health and wellbeing. Make sure that everyone involved in your respite care plan is on the same page so that you can take time for your own self-care.
The bottom line is, no one person can do everything alone, and there is skilled and compassionate help available through Endeavor’s home care team! Contact us at 480-498-2324 to learn about our in home respite care services.
