What Are the Main Benefits of Respite Care?

Short-term relief is exactly what family caregivers need to prevent burnout. They can take time away to handle personal and professional commitments without putting their aging loved ones’ health in jeopardy. Here are some benefits family caregivers receive when using respite care services. 

Assistance with Caregiving Duties

The biggest mistake a family caregiver can make is to take on the role without receiving any help. The top cause of caregiver burnout is lack of assistance from others. Asking others for help doesn’t make you a bad caregiver. In fact, it can help you maintain a high quality of life, which also benefits your parent. Respite care services are available based on your schedule as well as your loved one’s needs.  Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Des Moines, IA, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.

Renewed Energy

Fulfilling caregiver tasks each day can take a lot out of a person mentally, emotionally, and physically. You need to find time to reenergize and avoid becoming ill, overwhelmed, and agitated. Just like appliances don’t run on empty, your body needs fuel, which comes in the form of energy. With respite care, you can take time away to clear your mind, rest, relax, and regroup. 

More Time for Self-Care

It’s common for family caregivers to become so consumed with their loved ones’ health that they forget about their own needs. Make sure you continue to eat healthy, exercise, and attend doctor visits.  Pushing your healthcare needs to the side could have damaging effects. For example, skipping doctor appointments could prevent your physician from catching issues early on, putting your overall health in jeopardy. However, if you use respite care, you can go to these appointments without worrying about leaving your loved one unattended.  If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality senior care, Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.

Reduced Identity Issues

If you’ve ever found yourself saying “our illness” instead of “my loved one’s illness,” you could be facing identity issues, which is common among family caregivers. They often lose their sense of self due to the lack of separation. You need to get out of the house and socialize with people your own age in addition to doing things that bring you joy. Respite care makes it easy for you to find qualified caregivers for your loved one, especially when family and friends are unwilling to step up. 

Lowered Risk of Bad Habits

Family caregivers experience good times, but there will also be many challenges. When the difficult times are too much to handle, some caregivers turn to drinking, smoking, overeating, and other bad habits that damage their health. Using respite care services allows you to take breaks instead of resorting to bad habits. During your free time, you can take up journaling, join an exercise class, go to the spa, or try a new craft.  Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Des Moines home care service. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (515) 264-2438 to learn more about our customized care plans.