When providing care or a senior it is not uncommon for primary caregivers to ignore their own needs. In many cases, the responsibilities of providing care can leave a caregiver feeling “stretched too thin.” Primary caregivers simply want to provide the best possible care for their senior loved one. Although this drive is admirable, the failure to address their own needs may eventually lead to problems that can negatively impact themselves, along with the individual who they are caring for. When providing care becomes overwhelming, it may become necessary to enlist professional in-home care support.
Helping Caregivers to Thrive
It is essential to keep primary caregivers feeling their best since they play such a vital role in the care of a senior loved one. If a primary caregiver is struggling physically, emotionally, or mentally, then they may become unable to provide the level of care that is required. Utilizing the support of a trained in-home care professional is not a reason for family caregivers to feel anxious or guilty. In fact, knowing when to choose in-home care and actively taking advantage of professional in-home care assistance can positively impact the overall quality of life for everyone involved.
Understanding In-Home Care for Caregivers
The level of in-home care support provided can be flexible, and there are many options for in-home care services which can assist with all (or specific) Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These can include support with mobility, assistance in the bathroom, and help with getting dressed. If a loved one is able to handle some of the basics on their own, a professional caregiver may be useful for preparing meals, doing light housework, and providing transportation to places they need to go.
Professional in-home caregivers can be utilized in a full-time or part-time capacity. This is typically dependent on the amount of time needed them to supplement a primary caregiver’s availability. Respite care is an in-home care option that is designed specifically to help existing caregivers when they need some time to themselves, or to attend to their other responsibilities. It is also possible to enlist in-home care support on a 24/7 basis if needed.
Advantages of In-Home Care for Caregivers
The taxing nature of providing care can affect caregivers at home or even at work. Mental and emotional health and well-being are just as important, sometimes even more so.
Some studies have shown that chronic or stress-related illnesses and disorders can be more common in those who take care of a loved one on their own. Caregivers have been known to push their own health issues to the back burner in favor of helping their elderly charge. If this continues, these physical problems can grow to the point where they may become unable to continue providing care in any capacity. An in-home care agency can step in and share caregiver responsibilities—helping to mitigate certain issues from developing.
Avoiding Caregiver Burnout
The phenomena of caregiver burnout can materialize due to a combination of different factors. Physical, mental, and emotional burdens may all play a role in this development. Maintaining mental and emotional health and well-being are extremely important. It is easy for caregivers to get become completely absorbed in their loved one’s problems and difficulties and lose sight of their own needs during while providing care. Not only is this terrible for the caregiver, a loved one may sense moods and blame it on themselves, increasing their stress. Again, this is where an in-home care professional can truly shine, stepping in for however long each day to give caregivers a chance to do things that they truly enjoy—along with everything else on one’s plate.
In-Home Care Could Save Money
In some scenarios, using in-home care services may also help to save money, a benefit virtually any caregiver can get on board with. This is because in-home care can help families to avoid the financial commitment to a long-term facility. Additionally, the amount of time an in-home care professional dedicates can be flexible—allowing for families to control how much they allocate towards services.
Maintaining Personal and Professional Life
Many times, personal and professional relationships can suffer if an individual is overloaded and overwhelmed as a result of the work needed to take care of a loved one. On the professional side, a lack of energy or attention caused by the stresses involved with being a caregiver can cause someone to feel undue pressure at their job. In-home care can help to alleviate additional worry/anxiety that may affect a caregiver’s professional life.
On the personal side, contact with friends and other loved ones can become sparse or cease altogether if all of an individual’s time is spent taking care of an elderly charge. Not only does this degrade someone’s own mental and emotional health, it can easily affect how the caregiver treats those cared for. Respite, along with regular assistance from an in-home care professional, can allow time and energy to stay connected with others that are important to an individual’s personal and professional life.
Contact Comfort Home Care For More Information Today!
If you are a primary caregiver and are considering seeking additional support with caring for an aging senior—contact Comfort Home Care by calling or sending us a message online today. We have useful guides that can help you to better understand the benefits of in-home care and also offer complimentary in-home care evaluations.
