Fulfilling the care needs of an elderly or disabled loved one is a physically, psychologically, and emotionally demanding undertaking, and it’s important for family caregivers to take regular breaks to rest and relax. Respite care provides relief from the day-to-day responsibilities of caregiving, enabling family caregivers to also care for their own needs.
Here are a few basic principles of respite care:
- Respite from day-to-day, ongoing care tasks assures seniors still receive the attention they need and deserve.
- Respite care supplies family caregivers with care that is scheduled, short-term, intermittent and substitute.
- Respite care can be available from part of one day to ongoing scheduled routine relief.
How you can help a family caregiver:
- Offer to share caregiving duties. Even if you are only available to help out once in a while, it shows the family caregiver that you care about his/her wellness.
- Offer to help with the family caregiver’s own personal chores. Family caregivers have lives of their own, and taking time to manage their own laundry, grocery shopping, and housecleaning chores can be tricky.
- Pitch in to hire respite care services from a professional home care agency, like the Lehigh County senior care experts at Effraim Home Care. In many instances, family members who live at a distance want to contribute to a loved one’s care. Helping to pay for respite care services not only helps the senior, but the family caregiver as well.
How family caregivers can find needed support:
- Request help. Other family members are often available to help with caregiving, but aren’t aware of what help is needed. Involve them in the respite care plan so you can take time off when needed.
- When family members are not available, schedule respite care with a home care agency, like Effraim Home Care. Professional caregivers can help family members take the time away they need while providing top quality care for their older loved ones.
- Talk to your senior loved one. A change in daily routine, such as by introducing a new caregiver, can be upsetting for the senior, so take the steps below to alleviate any concerns:
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- Make sure you have a respite care plan in place in advance.
- Remind the older person on a regular basis that your break is approaching and someone will be coming to help him/her.
- Introduce the older adult to the new caregiver if he or she is not another family member.
- Follow your plan. Taking time away from caregiving is critical to your health and wellbeing. Make sure that everyone involved in your respite care plan is on the same page so that you can make time for your own self-care.
The bottom line is, no one can do everything alone, and there is professional help here for you through Effraim Home Care’s senior care team! Call us at (215) 826-7422 or contact us online to learn about our in-home respite care services provided by our Lehigh County elderly care team. For a full list of areas where Effraim Home Care services are available, visit our Locations Served page.
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