Respite care is the perfect way to celebrate family caregivers and support caregiver health.
If you have ever felt unrecognized and underappreciated in your role as family caregiver, this month is for you! November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to focus on caregiver health and to applaud the tireless work and dedication you invest in making sure a loved one’s life is the best it can be.
It’s Not Always Easy…But You Are Making a Difference
Take a moment to think through what a day in the life of family caregiving involves. Your first thoughts are never for yourself, but for the health and wellbeing of someone you love. Because of you, an older loved one:
- Never has to be worried about facing the challenges of aging alone
- Has a companion to brighten each day through fun activities, outings, and conversations
- Obtains the help and support needed to accomplish the daily tasks of living that may have become difficult to take care of independently
- Can enjoy healthy and well-balanced meals
- And much more
Caregiving is a rewarding but challenging endeavor, and we salute you for your selfless work.
You’re in Good Company
According to an AARP study, unpaid family caregiving amounts to more than $600 billion in care. This mind-boggling statistic translates to 38 million family caregivers who care for a loved one an average of 18 hours per week. To put it into perspective, this far surpasses the $433 billion spent annually in out-of-pocket healthcare costs by everyone in the United States.
But You Cannot Do It All Alone
Family caregivers often feel as though there is no one who knows the older family member better than they do, and therefore no one can provide the same standard of care. Although the first part of this may very well be true, the fact is that trying to meet all of a loved one’s care needs independently isn’t healthy for either the care receiver or the caregiver.
Maintaining caregiver health is crucial in order to provide the best care for someone you love, which means you must care for yourself, too. Feeling burned out and worn down leads to lower patience levels, less attention to detail, and greater frustration and stress—a recipe for a number of negative effects, including:
- Anger, resentment, and other complicated emotions
- Self-medication through unhealthy means
- Relationship problems with other family members and friends who also need your time and attention
- An increased risk of injury to the senior from a fall, medication mishap, or other accident
- Sleeping problems
- Caregiver depression and other serious health conditions
- And much more
The Solution
The best way you can celebrate National Family Caregivers Month is by acknowledging the need for support to allow yourself to take time to care for yourself. Home With You Senior Care’s respite care services are the perfect way to obtain a healthier life balance while ensuring the high quality care a loved one deserves.
We help family members prioritize caregiver health and wellness without compromising the care their loved ones receive. Contact us online or call us at 410-756-0959 for more information regarding our customized in-home respite care for older adults in Pikesville, Catonsville, Owings Mills, and the surrounding areas.