Senior citizens are not any different from the rest of us, and they still require love and care. It is paramount to treat them with respect and dignity, just as we would any one of us. As much as we would want to stay by their side continually, it’s physically a daunting task to do so, and that’s why you and the senior need respite care.
Seniors need to have companionship to stay happy and healthy. Various services provide this type of care for older adults. Some examples include personal assistants, nurses, and home care providers. However, for the most part, most households in the United States rely on their loved ones to care for their seniors, and this is often termed, family caregivers.
Challenges Of Family Caregivers
As a family caregiver, you need to care for your loved one without pay. It is a tremendous sacrifice and hard work.
Being a family caregiver is not easy, especially when caring for your loved one without pay. They need to take care of their loved one who has Alzheimer’s or dementia, children with special needs, or any other condition that makes it difficult to live independently. They also need to ensure that they provide the best possible care and treatment for their loved ones while managing their own lives and responsibilities.
Family Caregivers Often Neglect Their Personal Lives
Family caregivers are often neglected to care for a loved one in their personal lives. They neglect themselves and cannot focus on their own needs.
Sometimes, there is also a lot of pressure on family caregivers to neglect their personal lives to take care of their loved ones. This can lead to a lot of mental and physical strain on the caregiver and adversely affect their personal lives. These consequences are especially true for women, who are more likely than men to experience depression after being caregivers.
Despite aiming for a positive experience, the stress and fatigue from continually taking care of a loved one can cause strain and tension among family members. It can become a physical, emotional, and mentally exhausting experience.
Due to these concerns and problems, many caregiving services are stepping up and taking into account the necessities of both the caregiver and the person needing assistance. They are now providing respite care services.
What Is Respite Care Services?
Respite care services are an arrangement of short-term care for people who cannot provide for themselves. It is offered by volunteers who come to the home to provide support and assistance with everyday tasks.
The services include light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, medication reminders, transportation, and other activities. The volunteer will usually stay in the home for a few hours or days at a time before returning to their own lives.
Respite care is often provided by organizations such as hospices or charities with an established network of volunteers. But certain caregiver professional services also offer this option.
How Can Respite Care Help You?
Respite care services are a form of care that provides temporary relief to caregivers who need a break.
Professional or volunteer caregivers can provide these services. They provide relief to the caregiver and the person being cared for. Caregivers may go on vacation, take a break from work, or spend time with their family members. It also provides an opportunity for new perspectives and a change in routine.
You can avail of this service in many ways, such as short-term stays in hospitals, long-term stays in nursing homes, or home-based support services.
Over 12 million families with an adult need respite care service at least once every year in the United States alone. In Canada, over 1 million adults need respite care services each year.
Benefits Of Respite Care
Respite care is a vital part of the lives of both the senior and the loved one taking care of the senior. It permits them to take a break from their own daily routines and receive support for life’s difficulties.
Here are some more benefits you can take advantage of from respite care services.
Prevents Burnout
The repetitive routine of taking care of a senior can cause burnout. No matter how much you care for your loved one, there are times that we can’t take it anymore. If you have any of these feelings below, you need to seriously consider a respite care service.
1) You start feeling drained like the energy has been sucked out of you
2) You feel like you’ve lost your sense of self and purpose
3) You feel disconnected from your loved ones and the world around you
4) You find yourself spending less time with friends, family, or co-workers
5) Your work suffers because you’re not giving your best effort
Affordable
Respite care services are cheaper than entirely investing in full-time caregiving services. There are many reasons for this. First, respite care is about half of what it costs to hire a full-time caregiver. Second, it is easier to find someone who can provide respite care than someone who can provide 24/7 caregiving services.
This is an important point because many families cannot afford to pay for 24/7 caregivers but still need help with day-to-day activities requiring some supervision.
Balances Family Relationships
Family caregiving can cause stress and tension among family members, but availing of respite care services reduce them.
In the United States, over 20 million people rely on family members to provide care for them. This is because 20% of adults aged 65 and older are caregivers for their loved ones. The number has been increasing since 2010 when about 17% of adults aged 65 and older were caregivers for their loved ones.
Many families experience tension in caring for one another due to a lack of time and energy. A study conducted in 2017 showed that only about one-third of caregivers felt that they had enough support from their family members or friends to deal with the strain on their health, mental well-being, finances, relationships, and other aspects of life.
Takeaway
The most important thing about availing of respite care services is finding the right type of caregiver for your loved one so your senior doesn’t get overwhelmed or feel neglected during this period. So if you are looking for the right respite caregiver, contact and reach out to Nova Home Health Care. We offer services that aim to help our seniors and make them feel at home as much as possible.
