Caregiving is full of beautiful moments. You get to spend time showing your senior loved one how much you care. However, there may also be some challenging times when you need to take a break and refresh your spirit. Knowing how respite care works and understanding its benefits for seniors makes it easier for you to make decisions about who can step in when you need a little time away from your duties.
1. Respite Care Offers an Option to Save Money
Hiring a caregiver may seem like a splurge for seniors who are already on tight budgets. However, the choice to use respite care allows you to continue to serve as a family caregiver while your loved one saves money in the long run. Being able to age in place saves money on housing and care costs. Having someone stay with your loved one when you cannot also prevents serious disasters, such as a house fire that could deplete your parent’s life savings.
When researching agencies that provide senior care, 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.
2. Seniors and Respite Caregivers Develop Friendships
Some family caregivers feel an initial sense of guilt about leaving their loved ones with other people. These feelings are normal, but they’re also fleeting. Once you return home and hear about all the fun your loved one had, you’ll feel confident about leaving him or her in the care of his or her new friend. In fact, you may even find your loved one asking you when you’ll take your next break because he or she enjoys the chance to socialize with someone different.
3. A Professional Caregiver Is More Reliable than Other Options
Seniors thrive on routine, and they need to know who will be spending time with them. Although your friends and family members may volunteer to help out, they might also cancel on you at the last minute. Professional respite caregivers show up on time, and you can arrange to have the same one so your parent benefits from seeing a familiar face each time.
Family caregivers sometimes need a break from their caregiving responsibilities. When they need respite care, Barrie families can rely on professional caregivers to help their senior loved ones remain safe at home.
4. Respite Care Helps Seniors Stay Healthier
Depending on your loved one’s health and general abilities, it could be dangerous to leave him or her home alone for even a few minutes. Respite care allows you to take care of other responsibilities or just relax without sacrificing your loved one’s safety. While you’re doing what you need to do, a professional caregiver is there to help your loved one with potentially dangerous tasks, such as cooking and bathing.
5. Respite Care Is Available at Any Time
The evening and weekend hours tend to pose the biggest challenges for caregivers who need to take a break. Your loved one may begin to experience problems in the evening, such as wandering or frequent restroom trips that interfere with your ability to get proper sleep. You can arrange for respite care so your loved one has someone to help while you rest. Having an extra person available to help with his or her needs at night can help your loved one feel secure at bedtime, and it reduces the chances of a preventable fall-related injury.
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 Barrie 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 us at Home Care Assistance if you need compassionate, professional care for your loved one. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at 647-970-3803 to learn about the high quality of our in-home respite care services.