Respite care is something that lots of family caregivers aren’t aware of. Still others have heard of it, but think it’s something that isn’t for them. The reality is that leaning on the help of senior home care and taking respite time is something that every family caregiver needs to be doing.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care involves temporary relief for family caregivers since someone else is stepping in to take care of the senior who needs help. For most families, this involves having experienced home care providers stop by and spend time with the senior. The family caregiver then has a chance to do any number of other things, all the while knowing that their family member is in good hands.
Respite Care Prevents Caregiver Burnout
One reason that family caregivers need to take respite time is that it helps to prevent burnout. Caregiving is physically and emotionally demanding. Most people who work don’t work every single day of the week, they take time off. The same needs to be true for family caregivers. Taking respite time helps to reduce stress and give family caregivers a chance to recharge emotionally.
Respite Care Promotes Quality of Life
Respite care also ensures that family caregivers have improved focus when they come back. They’re less likely to make mistakes and they can do a better job of caring for the people they love. This improves quality of life for seniors and for family caregivers, because life in general looks and feels better overall.
Respite Improves Family Caregiver Health
When family caregivers are not taking breaks, they’re under more stress. Stress, especially chronic stress, has an impact on physical health. It contributes to chronic fatigue, pain, and other issues like high blood pressure. Avoiding these problems can be as simple as taking a break now and again. With the help of senior home care services, family caregivers can take that time away without having to worry that they’re leaving their family member alone.
Respite Offers Time for Personal Needs
Sometimes family caregivers have to go to their own doctors or simply spend time exercising, doing their own hobbies, or socializing with their own friends. Instead of spending every waking minute trying to make sure that seniors are having those needs met and ignoring their own, family caregivers can take respite time and do some of that themselves. They tend to come back to caregiving refreshed and better able to handle whatever happens.
Respite Care Makes Aging in Place a Sustainable Option
Often family caregivers are the ones caring for their seniors because they love them and want to offer them the best care they can, but they’re also the only one who can handle the job. It makes sense to keep aging in place a sustainable option for seniors by ensuring that family caregivers are taking care of themselves, too. Ignoring their own needs might make it more difficult or even impossible for seniors to stay at home where they want to be.
Respite care offers tremendous benefits for seniors and family caregivers alike. Senior home care providers can be there to offer the support that families need and ensure that seniors are in good hands until family caregivers return.
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Hinsdale, IL, please contact the caring staff at Suburban Home Care today at (630) 964-9000.
There are several great reasons why Suburban Home Care® should be your choice for quality homecare. All of our Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides are screened, trained, bonded and insured.
Every family needs to be aware that almost every Homeowner’s insurance policy specifically excludes anyone working within your home. If the person you hire becomes injured while working for you, you will become personally responsible for all of their medical bills. This has left several families very vulnerable when their caregiver injured themselves at their home.
The potential to lose everything you have worked so hard to achieve seems an unnecessary risk. Every one of Suburban Home Care®’s employees are completely covered by insurance so you and your loved ones can relax knowing that if something unforeseen happens to your caregiver, they are completely covered by insurance.
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