Being a family caregiver provides the opportunity to bond with your aging loved one, but it can also come with overwhelming challenges that have significant effects on your wellbeing. However, getting help and maintaining a healthy lifestyle could prevent caregiverburnout and increase your loved one’s safety. When family and friends are unable to help out, respite care is an option you should consider. Continue reading to learn more about respite care and how it can benefit your family and the aging loved one you care for.
What Is It?
Respite care is known as temporary caregiver relief. The type of care provided depends on what seniors and their families need. Getting help can be difficult, especially when your siblings live far away. The fact remains that you’ll need assistance with caregiving tasks to prevent burnout and increase the quality of care your parent receives. The temporary relief from caregiving can reduce stress and provide you with an important mental break.Family caregivers sometimes need a break from their caregiving responsibilities. When they need respite care, Des Moines families can rely on professional caregivers to help their senior loved ones remain safe at home.
Who Can Use the Services?
It’s a myth that respite care is only used by seniors with illnesses or age-related diseases. The truth is that many families use respite care services for older adults who live alone. Maintaining an independent lifestyle is easier for seniors when someone comes in to help with their most challenging tasks. Respite care also offers companionship to older adults who live by themselves. Their interaction with caregivers can boost their mental and emotional health and increase their level of physical activity. If your loved one lives alone but still needs help with medication management, meal prep, and household tasks, you should look into respite care.When researching agencies that provide homecare, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance.
How Flexible Is It?
When your loved one only needs assistance a few days each week, you can use respite care for that time instead of hiring an around-the-clock caregiver to step in. Respite care gives you more flexibility, especially when facing unforeseen issues such as an accident that prevents your loved one from walking or projects at work that require you to put in overtime hours. In these instances, your loved one can use respite care services while recovering or until you find a way to balance your professional commitments with your caregiving duties. You don’t have to sign long-term contracts when using respite care, which is an advantage for you and your family. If your loved one’s care needs change, you can change the respite care schedule.
Is Specialized CareAvailable?
Growing older puts seniors at a higher risk of developing conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Although you may not have training and knowledge in these areas, you can hire a respite caregiver who does. Request a caregiver with experience in a specific care area that impacts your loved one. The respite caregiver can also give you tips on boosting your loved one’s health and alleviating many of the symptoms associated with his or her condition.Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Des Moines senior care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (515) 264-2438 to schedule a free in-home consultation.