Caring for seniors who have dementia demands a lot of time and effort. Family caregivers often find themselves struggling to fit everything into their schedules. What typically happens is that they end up overwhelmed, over-scheduled, and exhausted. Taking time away is the answer, but without respite care support, many family caregivers completely overlook this option because their family member still needs so much care.
What Respite Care Does
With respite care, family caregivers get some relief from the demands of caregiving for a few hours. Experienced home care providers stop by to handle hands-on tasks, keep seniors with dementia company, and handle various other tasks. This assistance means that family caregivers can leave the home, rest, or take care of other responsibilities as they arise. They get time away.
Dementia Caregiving Challenges
People with dementia often experience memory loss, confusion, mood changes, and trouble performing daily tasks. They typically need increasing levels of support as their dementia worsens. That means that family caregivers are constantly stretched too thin. The emotional strain of watching a loved one lose their memory and cognitive abilities is massive. Add that to the physical and mental exhaustion and it’s easy to see why family caregivers need a break.
Time to Recharge
One of the most important aspects of respite time for family caregivers is that they can use this time to recharge. Family caregivers want to be there for the seniors they love, but they still need to be able to take regular breaks to think about and do other things. Caregiving cannot be the only thing that they think about each day or they’ll end up constantly drained without any way to build their energy reserves back up.
Continuity of Care
Family caregivers often worry that they can’t take time away because no one else can offer the care they offer. While the personal touch that family caregivers offer can’t be denied, there are experienced elder care providers who can help dementia patients compassionately. These professional caregivers understand the unique needs that dementia patients have and they can help family caregivers and seniors get the support they need.
Social and Emotional Support
Respite care is just as helpful for dementia patients. Family caregivers can’t be the only source of social and emotional support for aging adults. When seniors with dementia can spend time with other people, they broaden their horizons and interact with lots of other people. These positive interactions help seniors with dementia to feel connected again with the world around them, even as their dementia symptoms worsen over time.
Preventing Family Caregiver Burnout
Ultimately, all of this help can also work toward preventing family caregiver burnout. If family caregivers are exhausted emotionally and physically for too long, they’re likely to burn out. This causes them to have health issues of their own, compassion fatigue, and an inability to keep providing quality care to the seniors they love. Taking time away and spending time focusing on their rest and needs helps family caregivers avoid burning out.
Planning for respite care can take some time for family caregivers. It’s okay to start small and create a care plan that gradually ramps up respite time.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Respite Care Services in San Diego CA, please call the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Canaan Home Care – A Premier Provider of Senior Home Care in the La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin, and Manhattan Beach areas.
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