Respite Care For You and Your Senior Loved Ones
You may have heard of respite care but aren’t really sure what it is or if it is even something that would benefit the seniors in your life. If you spend much of your time caring for your senior loved one, respite care can give you a reprieve when you need it most. While family members are often hesitant to leave their senior loved ones or feel guilty when they do, breaks - even short ones -are often needed and beneficial. Without a break once in a while, caregivers can get worn out and cranky. They can become exhausted and not really at their best. And often, they can start to feel resentful and mentally taxed.
Respite care can help maintain a great balance between family members and their senior loved ones.
How Respite Care Works
Seniors and their families should know that when to use respite care is completely up to them. Maybe you’re planning for a girls’ afternoon in the city, with a museum visit and your first stop at Paix Coffee. You feel guilty leaving, and worried, but you haven’t seen your friends in a long time. Respite care can help for the afternoon to give you a break, and provide expert care for your senior loved one, giving you peace of mind while you are gone. If you’re thinking of going for even longer, such as a night away in DC to see “Funny Girl” at the Kennedy Center this summer, respite care can help for occasional getaways. Or maybe you just need an afternoon nap to refresh. Respite care can even help when you are still in the home with your senior but just need a little break. Respite care workers can come into your home for as little or as much as you need to give you a break from the daily care of your senior loved one. Even if you just need to catch up on housework or on the bills, knowing someone is there for an hour to help you get caught up can offer peace of mind. Respite care workers are trained professionals who will follow your senior loved one’s regular care plan and who can even keep in touch while you are away, updating you on your senior’s well-being.
How A Break Can Help
It is not uncommon for family caregivers to feel selfish when they leave their senior loved ones to do something they enjoy - especially if their senior loved one is declining physically. However, sometimes a small break is best for both parties. If family members are feeling overwhelmed with all of the changes happening and all of the intensive caregiving, have a short break. No one is at their best when they are exhausted and overwhelmed. A break can help give caregivers a renewed spirit and possibly even restore some of the patience you feel you’ve lost with your loved one. It can help you see your situation through a different lens and appreciate your loved one more, and enjoy the time you have together more. It also can help ease your senior loved one’s mind at times. Often they worry that they are taking you away from the things you enjoy most, and feel guilty about that. Sometimes, it can lead to bickering and shortened fuses. They worry that you feel stuck. A breakaway, with a happier face upon return, can do wonders for seniors. It also can give you both something to talk about when you return. You can tell them what you did - even if it is just trying a new cappuccino. And they can tell you what happened while you are gone.
Visiting Angels Can Help
At Visiting Angels, we can help families on their journey of caring for their senior loved ones. Whether you are looking for full-time home care or simply temporary relief, our compassionate caregivers will be there when you need them. From personal care to respite care, Visiting Angels does it all.
We serve seniors in the Richmond area, including in Short Pump, Glen Allen, Atlee, Carytown, Chamberlayne, Dumbarton, Ginter Park, Hanover, Henrico, Innsbruck, Lakeside, Laurel, Mechanicsville, Ridge, The Fan, West End and Wyndham. We will come into your home and do a free assessment to see how our compassionate caregivers can help meet your needs.
To find out more about our services and how they can help you, contact us online or call us today at (804) 353-0000.
If you feel called to help seniors in your area, we are always looking to add compassionate caregivers to our staff. Contact us for more information.