Respite care involves having a professional caregiver come into your senior loved one’s home so you can take a break. While you may feel better after these breaks, it’s also good to know respite care provides other benefits as well. These five things demonstrate just how important it is for you to have professional assistance available any time you need to take a break from your duties.
1. Reduces Caregiver Illnesses & Injuries
Family caregivers are at higher risk for getting sick compared to other members of the population because the stress they experience weakens the immune system. You may also be at higher risk for injuries if you must do things such as move your loved one from one place to another. Being stressed out could cause you to fail to use safe lifting techniques. Taking a break reduces these risks by helping you keep your mind and body strong for the tasks at hand.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated at-home care, you can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
2. Relieves Stress for Everyone Involved
Caregiving can be stressful. Each day brings new decisions and a to-do list that feels like it’s never finished. Your family may also be strained by the caregiving dynamics, and it’s not uncommon for adult siblings to squabble about the distribution of responsibilities. In-home respite care allows everyone involved to take a deep breath. You can always ask the professional respite caregiver to help out with a household task or be available during times when everyone else has something they need to do.
3. Lowers Hospital Readmission Risk
Your decision to become a family caregiver may have come after your loved one faced a serious health issue that required hospitalization. Now that your loved one has come home, you view it as your responsibility to help him or her avoid being readmitted for a preventable cause. However, you may still be tempted to leave your loved one alone on occasion so you can manage your other needs. Respite care provides an option that means your loved one is never left home alone during a critical part of recovery.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional home care. Jasper families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place.
4. Provides a New Perspective
Professional caregivers are trained to know how to handle changing situations as seniors age. They don’t view their job as a burden. Instead, they enjoy helping seniors reach their highest possible levels of independence. This positive perspective on senior care is often contagious. You’ll feel happier after talking to your loved one’s respite caregiver, who can even offer you tips for easing the stress of your routine.
5. Expands Your Support Network
You may sometimes feel as though you’re all alone as a caregiver. The weight of all your responsibilities is a heavy load, and it could even cause your loved one to feel guilty as he or she watches you experience stress. Respite care allows both you and your loved one to feel supported, and this goes a long way toward boosting your general happiness.
There are a variety of reasons family caregivers should consider respite care. Jasper, TN, families often have additional responsibilities that make it more challenging to provide the care their senior loved ones need and deserve. A professional home caregiver can take over your important caregiving duties, allowing you more time to focus on yourself. Trust Assisting Hands Home Care to provide high-quality compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call one of our friendly Care Specialists today.
