Family members who care for older adults benefit greatly when they get opportunities to relax and manage stress. Some family caregivers become so involved with caregiving they fail to take care of themselves, which can lead to illness. Respite care provides a temporary reprieve from caregiving, allowing family caregivers to take a break from their caregiving duties for a few hours or several days. Consider these five reasons respite care is important.
1. Good for Physical Health
Some family caregivers have jobs, children, and other responsibilities. Others care for aging loved ones around the clock and are rarely able to get away from their caregiving duties. Both types of caregivers need a periodic change of scenery. A caregiver who spends most of his or her time taking care of a loved one may never have the opportunity for a leisurely day trip, let alone a vacation. Respite care allows caregivers to take time off, which research shows can be good for physical health, since it can reduce stress.
2. Beneficial for Mental Health
Being a family caregiver can be isolating, especially when providing 24/7 care for a loved one. A few hours away from caregiving responsibilities each week can provide a fresh outlook. Lunch with friends, a round of golf, or a long soak in the tub to relax and reflect may not seem like much, but being able to engage in these activities without being in a hurry offers a much-needed mental health break.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Barrie families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
3. Good for the Family
When a family caregiver has a partner and/or children, respite care allows the caregiver to attend activities such as a spouse’s company party or a child’s sporting event. Relationships can be negatively impacted when caregivers cannot spend quality time with their partners or children. An evening out or a weekend getaway can rejuvenate a couple’s relationship or provide essential bonding time with the kids.
4. Healthy for Aging Adults
Older adults benefit from respite care because it provides an opportunity to make new friends. Spending time with an in-home respite caregiver can be a treat because of the opportunity for your loved one to develop a new relationship.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated at-home care, you can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
5. Beneficial for Caregivers Who Need Time for Miscellaneous Tasks
Finding time to clean out a closet, rearrange a room, or plant flowers might not be possible for someone who is the sole caregiver for a family member. However, respite care can provide the time needed to attend to such tasks.
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 home 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. To schedule a free in-home consultation, give us a call at 647-970-3803 today.