Moms Caring for Moms: Home Care Helps Caregiver Burnout

Are you a mom caring for your elderly mother while attending to your own family and personal needs? If so, you’re part of the “sandwich generation” that splits time between raising young children and caring for aging parents. According to Pew Research, nearly half of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent over age 65 and are raising a child. 

Family caregiving helps seniors maintain a higher quality of life in the comfort of their homes. However, balancing the tasks of raising a family and tending to your aging mother can be stressful and overwhelming.

Many family caregivers deal with mental health issues from being “sandwiched” between aging parents and young children. “Caregiver burnout” can arise and lead to high levels of anxiety, anger, sadness and stress.

If you don’t have family members to lean upon for senior care assistance, a professional home care provider, such as Visiting Angels, can provide the necessary support to avoid caregiver burnout.

How Home Care Makes a Positive Impact

Women typically serve as the backbone of the family and provide the majority of family care. The nurturing responsibilities can place a high demand emotionally and physically. Home care can help moms balance multiple responsibilities of family, work, and household tasks while ensuring their senior loved one gets quality care. Sometimes, you might just need a break to do personal errands. In some situations, an extra hand can make a difference in helping your aging mother receive companionship.

Here are some other ways home care can alleviate the family care burden:

• Re-establish the family routine
  With a caregiver preparing dinner for your aging mother a few times a week, you can be there for your child on a regular schedule instead of having to choose between both family members.

• Ensure continuity of care
  For the times when you cannot be there, a professional caregiver can continue to provide the same level of quality care that you would.

• Avoid family resentment
  Solely caring for your aging mother can build resentment with other family members, even if they are unable to help due to distance, work or other circumstances. Instead of pulling double duty, a home care provider can fill in their slot so you don’t have to carry the entire burden.

• Create personal time
  You shouldn’t have to bring your elderly loved one along to go shopping every time or have them sit in a waiting room while you have an appointment. Personal time offers the freedom to do what you want and refresh yourself to face the next day.

• Move slowly into the caregiver role
  While you use to help mom on an occasional basis, she may need more assistance and support now. Instead of jumping in full force and regretting it later, home care provides the opportunity to properly budget your time to become Mom's caregiver.

Types of Home Care Services

A variety of home care services are available to address different needs and stages of a senior’s life. You can choose the type of home care that best serves you and your aging mother on a full-time, part-time and even temporary basis. Here are some of your options:

• Personal Care
  While your aging mother can get around well, she may need help with personal care, including routines, meal preparation or housekeeping. A private in-home caregiver can provide your senior with regular, part-time support in a variety of activities including:
• Dressing
• Grooming
  
• Bathing
• Toileting
• Mobility
• Medication reminders
• Meal planning and preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Errands
• Transference

• Companion Care
  Senior loneliness and isolation are growing mental-health issues and sometimes companion care is a solution. If your senior can no longer drive, they may depend on you for transportation or a break from boredom. A home care provider can stop by at scheduled times to engage in your senior’s favorite activities, help with errands and doctor appointments and participate in other activities that encourage independent living and companionship.

• In-Home Respite Care
  Respite care services enable you to schedule temporary support for a special event, such as a wedding or family vacation, or short-term assistance when your senior mom is recovering from surgery. Professional caregivers provide respite care for the elderly based on your requirements and time frame. Not sure what respite care means? Learn everything you need to know about respite care.

Caring for an aging parent is an important and enormous task. While you love them, you still need time for your family and yourself. As your loved one ages, they may need more specialized care. That’s when you need specially trained professionals, like Visiting Angels, who understand the latest care tactics and can serve as your eyes and ears for mom and dad. Visiting Angels’ caregivers eliminate the stress and worry family members experience about the care of their elderly loved ones.