Respite care is one way caregivers can really help your family out. With respite care, both you and your parents benefit. Here is more information on this type of home care and what it offers.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is a form of care where someone helps care for your parent temporarily or permanently. You can arrange to have a caregiver once a month, once a week, or every day. The goal is to assist you with care. You’ll be able to go on vacation, run errands, or get some sleep.
What Can Respite Care Providers Do?
Caregivers who offer respite care take over most of the things you do. If you cook your mom dinner, eat with her, watch her favorite show, and help her brush her teeth and get to bed, the caregiver will do those things. If you help your dad shower, get dressed, and remind him to take his medications, a respite care provider will make sure those tasks are completed on schedule.
Respite care providers offer home care services. They help with mobility, grooming, personal care, meals, transportation, and companionship. If you need it done and it’s not a medical service, caregivers can take over while you take a break.
Don’t Be Ashamed to Reach Out for Help
Your mom or dad needs care. You’re certain you can provide that care. One thing that often happens is that people find out that providing care to an aging parent is harder than expected. There’s the physical aspect of supporting them when they get in and out of a shower or tub, walk up and down stairs, or get out of bed.
There’s also the mental toll. Watching your parent struggle to do things like pick up a fork, button a shirt, or read the newspaper is tough. You can’t break down in front of them, so you often hide your emotions until they’re asleep.
You can provide exceptional care and still take breaks. If you leave your parent for an hour or two or even a few days, you’re not a bad person. You can enlist the help of family member and family friends. Create a calendar of when you need to take time off and see who can help fill the gaps. Any times or days that remain can be filled by professional caregivers.
When you’re stressed, your parent will feel that stress and feel guilty. It impacts their emotional state, too. This is where respite care helps both people. Your parent gains a companion, and you return refreshed and ready to provide care. Call a home care agency to arrange respite care from caregivers.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in San Jose, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today. 1.855.986.6647
