Being a caregiver is one of the hardest things that you can do with your family. Caring for an older loved one is not just tough physically–it is an around the clock job, after all. It’s also mentally taxing. Watching a loved one struggle with daily tasks that were once second nature to them is not easy to do.
It’s hard for professional caregivers, too. But unlike a lot of family members that provide senior care, a good number of professionals have support structures built into what they do. Between sick days, training sessions, and the support of coworkers, most professional caregivers have built in systems that are designed to help ease the burden that they carry when they are assisting others. One of the biggest things that professional caregivers have going for them though, is that when their work day is over, they are able to take a physical and emotional break from the work that they do at the end of their work day.
Family caregivers need more support. Respite care can be a big help in this area. Family caregivers tend to be devoted to their loved ones–no one does this kind of work if they aren’t passionate about the people that they help. Respite care allows a family member to take a break–whether for a couple hours to run some errands, or a few weeks to get away on vacation–all without stopping their work with those that they love. It might not seem like a big deal, but it’s an easy way to add a little support.
There are many reasons why there’s a lack of support for caregivers. Some of it is the fact that most people don’t understand just how tough it is. There’s a huge lack of appreciation for the tireless work that caregivers do–but hopefully this is something that is changing. As the number of professional caregivers that our communities need continues to grow, the amount of work that family caregivers do will continue to get more and more recognition. Hopefully, the amount of support that outside organizations are able to provide will grow, too.
After all, no one knows your family like you do. There’s no substitute for loving care.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that no one person should be asked to do all of this on their own. Family caregivers do a lot of great work–but one family member certainly can’t shoulder all of this responsibility. Caring for an older loved one is a lot of work and eventually it can take a toll. Caregiver burnout is a very real thing, and when a caregiver is burnt out the quality of care that they are able to provide ends up diminishing. Your family deserves a lot more support than this.
If you’d like to learn more about how a professional in-home caregiver might be able to help you, please feel free to reach out. Our team would love to connect with you and go over what we do here at Paradise In-Home Care and how it might help you. Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation session and get started with a better care experience.
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