One of the big problems that a family caregiver faces is that they always must be “on.” This means that the job is never-ending. There is no vacation, and even the breaks that are found are momentary. Eventually, this piles up and can make the act of giving care a laborious one. It might even be a source of anxiety or dread.
Humans are capable of a lot, but there’s a limit to what each of us is capable of. There’s a reason why our bodies require sleep. If we don’t get the proper amount of rest, the work that we do will be limited in the amount of good that can be produced. Unfortunately, this is something that a lot of family caregivers completely ignore or choose not to pay attention to.
If the problem goes ignored, it can build in intensity. Unfortunately, as the severity or amount of needs that an older individual has increases, the amount of attention that a family caregiver will need to pour into this loved one will also increase. If that family member does not have much in the way of formal caregiver training, this can be an incredibly stressful experience. Right now, it is estimated that about $470 billion in unpaid family care is provided each year. This is a huge amount, and there is likely a lot that’s going on behind these numbers that we are not aware of. But what we can safely assume is that there is a lot of stress behind this number. There are a lot of people that are struggling to give their loved one’s the proper care, and it is a burden upon them.
Respite care can help to avoid this from becoming problematic. Stress, burnout, a lack of professional training, and a lack of time can all be barriers to providing the great care that your mom or dad deserves.
Respite care does not involve giving up your role as the primary caregiver in your family. It merely gives you a break–long or short–so that you can take care of yourself. The goal is that when you return, your ability to provide loving care will be much greater.
One of the big stressors that people face when thinking about respite care is the idea that someone will step in that doesn’t quite know what they are doing. This is why choosing the right caregiver is so important. You want someone with the proper training. You also want someone with open lines of communication so that important pieces of knowledge can be shared.
We provide that training–and more–to the caregivers employed at Paradise In-Home Care. If you’re located in the San Francisco Bay Area and you are considering respite care, or just want to learn more about senior care in general, feel free to get in touch with us. During a free consultation, we can help you to feel more comfortable with having a caregiver working with your parent and give you the guidance that you need to be a better caregiver yourself.
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