5 Reasons Families Consider Respite Care Important

Families need all the support they can get when they work together to help their senior loved ones age in place. In addition to neighbors and friends, families also rely on respite care to help them meet their loved ones’ needs. These five benefits of adding respite care to your family’s support network can make caring for your loved one easier and more effective. 

1. Provides Help with Tight Schedules

There’s going to be some point when all your family members will have obligations at the same time. For instance, you may need to go to a doctor’s appointment while your siblings have to work. These conflicts can create sticky situations when no one can agree on who should stay with your loved one. Respite care gives you a neutral party to call who will always be ready to care for your loved one at any time. 

2. Offers Opportunities to Learn New Care Strategies

Most people become caregivers with very little training, and your family may be trying to figure out things such as how to handle Alzheimer’s-related aggression. Arranging for a professional caregiver to come to your loved one’s home gives you a new resource to learn from. Respite caregivers are great at figuring out solutions to common problems with senior care, and your family can use these strategies to provide better care for your loved one.  Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated elder care, you can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.

3. Eases Tension that Builds Up Over Time

Tension builds up when people spend too much time together. It’s possible you and your loved one have recently begun squabbling over minor issues. Alternatively, you may go to bed at night so stressed out that you cannot get to sleep. Too much stress leads to damaged relationships, and feeling overburdened places you at risk for burnout. Taking a break now and then can work wonders and allow you to enjoy your caregiving role.  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. Irving 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.

4. Gives Seniors New Opportunities to Socialize

When an in-home caregiver takes over your duties for a while, your loved one gets to have fun with someone new. Families that arrange for respite care often find their loved ones become close friends with their caregivers. A respite caregiver serves as a companion who can take your loved one out to a movie while you’re away or play a game with your parent at home. Either way, your loved one will enjoy having someone new around to break up the monotony of the day. 

5. Offers Reassurance to Family Caregivers

Family caregivers are sometimes the only people in their social groups who are caring for aging loved ones. You may feel alone or even that you’re in over your head. Arranging for respite care can help you feel more in control of your day, and it’s always nice to chat with an understanding caregiver who knows what it’s like to be in your shoes. Whether you just need reassurance that you’re doing the right things or someone to lift the burden off your shoulders, one of the best things about respite care is knowing you have someone in your network you can rely on.  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. Irving families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place. If you need professional care for your senior loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (817) 591-1580.