As a family caregiver, every decision you make is critical for your senior loved one’s long-term happiness and overall health. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of in-home respite care helps you know exactly what you’re getting into when you arrange for professional home care services. When you think about it, there really aren’t many disadvantages to taking a break now and then, but you can use this guide to explore the potential challenges and benefits of choosing in-home respite care.
Think About How Well You Work with Others
Some family caregivers prefer to know everything about their loved ones’ days, and it can be difficult to let go of your need for control in the beginning. However, professional caregivers are trained to comply with families’ requests. A professional caregiver asks what your loved one’s daily schedule requires. The caregiver may also ask if you need specific things done to provide for your loved one’s care, such as providing medication reminders. When you come back, you can also expect to get a full report of your loved one’s day, which means you’ll always know how things went while you were away. In fact, most family caregivers find this much more reassuring than simply leaving their loved ones untended or with someone who may not provide much feedback.
Consider Your Loved One’s Need for Socialization
One of your biggest worries may be how your loved one will handle being left alone with a stranger. This is a very valid concern, but the chance to interact with someone new is one of the biggest benefits in-home respite care provides for your loved one. The in-home respite caregiver won’t feel like a stranger for long. In most cases, you can arrange for an initial meeting with all of you together, and you can ask for the same caregiver to return. Your loved one gets to make a new friend while you take a short break. This is a win-win scenario for everyone.
Assess Your Current State of Physical and Emotional Health
In-home respite care may not be just a luxury. After thinking about your current state of health, you may discover it’s a necessity. If you’ve been skipping healthcare appointments or stopped seeing your counselor, you need to find a way to get back on track. In-home respite care services are often used for practical purposes that help caregivers boost their overall wellbeing.
Although it may be challenging to find trustworthy, highly rated in-home care, La Mesa families can rely on Coast Care Partners. All our caregivers are thoroughly trained to assist seniors with a wide variety of essential tasks, including meal preparation, exercise, bathing, and light housekeeping.
Look at What a Positive Perspective Does for Your Relationship
You may also be concerned that taking time for yourself will make you feel guilty. The truth is everyone needs some downtime that allows them to unwind and process their emotions. Whether you just go for a stroll in the park or choose to take a class, doing something for yourself alleviates uncomfortable emotions such as resentment. Coming back to your duties with a positive perspective helps you spread joy to your loved one and enjoy your time together.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an older loved one and you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a caregiver to provide respite care. La Mesa family caregivers can prevent burnout by reaching out to Coast Care Partners. Our professional caregivers can care for your loved one at home while you rest, work, run errands, or take a vacation. Call Coast Care Partners today at 619-354-2544 to learn about our high-quality home care services.
