Thousands of people across the country are serving as caregivers for older loved ones. However, at some point, family caregivers need time off. Some families live quite a distance from their elderly loved ones and aren’t able to provide care themselves. In both cases, respite care is worth a consideration. Aging adults benefit greatly from respite care in the following ways.
Aging in Place
In-home care enables seniors to remain in their homes. Research indicates seniors enjoy better emotional, physical, and mental health when they’re able to remain in familiar surroundings. Older adults who live at home are also able to maintain their privacy and a sense of control over their daily lives. Respite caregivers are available day and night to assist as needed.
Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional home care service seniors can trust and rely on.
Basic Assistance
The level of assistance seniors might need varies from one person to the next. Some seniors may no longer be able to drive due to visual or cognitive issues, while others might be recovering from injuries or illnesses that make basic household tasks too taxing. Respite caregivers help older adults by running errands, performing light housekeeping duties, preparing meals, and doing other basic tasks.
Skilled Care
Sometimes seniors need a greater degree of assistance. They might need help dressing, bathing, or remembering to take their medications. Home care agencies employ people with a wide range of skills. Caregivers have training and experience with many different conditions, which may include Alzheimer’s, cancer, hip fractures, and chronic musculoskeletal issues.
A trained professional caregiver can be an extremely valuable member of your caregiving team. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional homecare. Rocklin families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Customized Schedules
Seniors and their family members determine the hours respite caregivers are needed. Staff members are available during the day to take over duties if family members need to work outside the home. Families whose older loved ones have dementia may prefer having caregivers during the night to allow them to get much-needed sleep. Seniors may simply need companionship a few days a week. Whatever the case, respite caregivers make themselves available to suit the individual needs of their clients.
Social Opportunities
Housebound seniors often have few opportunities to interact with people other than immediate family members. They may or may not have neighbors who stop by to say hello every now and then. Respite caregivers give older adults the chance to broaden their social circles and share their feelings, thoughts, and opinions with someone new.
Break from Routine
The experience respite caregivers possess enables them to bring a fresh approach to seniors’ daily routines. The knowledge and skills respite caregivers have can also be shared with family caregivers, which provides continuity of high-quality care.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Rocklin families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your parent, give us a call at (916) 226-3737 today.