Caregiving can be a challenging and stressful task at times, and caregivers who are overburdened should look into respite care. Hiring respite care gives family caregivers a break to restore their energy. Here are a few signs caregivers need respite care.
1. Exhaustion and Fatigue
While it’s normal to feel tired when caring for a family member, you shouldn’t feel completely exhausted or fatigued because a lack of energy could affect your physical and emotional health. When you don’t feel as though you have the energy to continue caring for your loved one, it’s important to get help through respite care.
If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and you need respite care, Barrie, ON, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Our respite caregivers are trained to assist older adults with a wide variety of everyday tasks, including meal prep, physical activity, and personal hygiene. We also provide 24-hour care and specialized care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
2. Mood Changes
You might feel frustrated at times when you’re a family caregiver, but severe mood changes mean you need to step away. If you’ve been feeling highly irritable on a daily basis, you’re more likely to have less patience with your loved one. Respite care provides a chance to unwind and reduce stress so you can return to your caregiving duties with a positive and healthier outlook.
3. Anxiety
When caring for a loved one with a serious health condition, it’s common to worry. However, your worries could turn into anxiety over time, especially if you’re constantly feeling stressed. If you’re feeling anxious on a regular basis, it may be more difficult to provide high-quality care for your loved one. Getting respite care gives you a chance to manage anxiety and stress.
Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Barrie, ON, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
4. Feelings of Hopelessness
When caregiving becomes overwhelming, you might experience feelings of hopelessness. If you don’t find a healthy way to handle these feelings, you could end up becoming depressed. Having respite care allows you to shift your perspective on your life and adopt a healthier mindset.
5. Sleep Issues
Getting high-quality sleep is crucial for carrying out caregiving tasks. When you don’t sleep well or only get low-quality sleep, you could become too tired to care for your loved one. Sleep issues can also affect the ability to think clearly and raise the risk of developing serious health issues. Respite care makes it possible to focus on enhancing your sleep quality.
6. Frequent Illnesses
If you get sick often, you might have reduced immunity due to stress, sleep deprivation, or other causes. When you’re frequently fighting colds and other illnesses, you won’t have the energy to take care of your loved one. Being sick could also put your loved one at risk of catching the flu or another illness that causes serious complications. With respite care, you can take your time to recover and boost your immune system.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Barrie Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. To schedule a free in-home consultation, give us a call at 647-970-3803 today.