Family caregivers tend to focus on supporting their senior loved ones as they go through the aging process. Yet caregivers’ personalities often cause them to overlook the fact that they also need support. When caregivers are willing to accept help from others, they can enjoy these amazing benefits.
1. Stay Emotionally Strong
Family caregivers are often known for being resilient and emotionally capable of handling challenging situations. However, even the strongest people can be worn down when they’re exhausted or emotionally drained from facing frustration throughout each day. Just knowing they’re surrounded by support helps caregivers maintain their emotional health.
Caring for an elderly loved one is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. When researching agencies that provide senior care, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance.
2. Keep Working in Their Current Careers
Many family caregivers are still in their primary income-earning years. Being caregivers means they may have difficulty juggling both sets of responsibilities. Home care is one form of support that helps caregivers know reliable people are able to be with their loved ones during their workdays or when important meetings come up.
3. Prevent Substance Misuse
Misuse of alcohol and drugs is something people rarely talk about when it comes to caregiving. Over time, the constant emotional toll caregiving takes can cause some family caregivers to begin abusing such substances. Caregivers who have faced challenges with addiction in the past are particularly at risk for this issue. Having plenty of support helps them do things such as attend counseling sessions so they’re less likely to turn to negative habits.
4. Protect Their Backs from Injuries
At first glance, being a family caregiver doesn’t look particularly dangerous. Yet it can easily lead to injuries if a person isn’t careful. Lifting during caregiving is a common cause of back injuries. A caregiver can also be hurt by trying to push a wheelchair or prevent a senior from falling. Arranging for other caregivers to help with physically challenging tasks makes injuries less likely to happen.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Richmond home care service provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
5. Maintain Good Family Relationships
Once a senior loved one needs help, it’s normal for family relationships to change. Some seniors don’t want their adult children to help with personal hygiene tasks. Others may worry they’re becoming a burden. Professional caregivers can preserve relationships between parents and their children who care for them. Creating multiple forms of support also relieves tension among other family members who may be trying to share the burden of care.
6. Learn New Strategies for Care
Support also comes in other forms. For instance, family caregivers may need to join support groups that help them figure out the best ways to care for their loved ones. They may also learn from other caregivers they bring to their loved ones’ homes. Including more than one caregiver in the care plan allows everyone to benefit from having multiple minds at work when a problem needs a solution.
Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Richmond, VA, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home. Call us at (804) 207-4746 to learn about our comprehensive in-home care plans.