There are a number of common challenges for family caregivers that can be overcome with in-home care services.
Taking care of your aging parents is an extremely rewarding act of love. As you reflect on the care they provided for you when you were growing up, you now have the opportunity to reciprocate. It allows you to take your relationship with your parents to a whole new level.
Having said that, providing care for loved ones isn’t always a bed of roses. It’s important to be aware of the hurdles you may encounter and to learn how to manage them to safeguard your own health and wellness. A few of the common challenges for family caregivers include:
Lack of Sleep
Interrupted sleep can arise from an older adult whose circadian clock has shifted, causing them to waken more often throughout the night. It can be the consequence of stress and worry. If dementia is a factor, sundowning and wandering may cause you to stay on alert. Sufficient sleep is vital to your ability to provide the best care for your parents, as well as for your own physical and emotional wellness.
Lack of Support
You might feel as if the bulk of caregiving falls on your shoulders. This can lead you to assume you are solely responsible for your parents’ care, which is not only overwhelming, but can cause hurt feelings and frustration in other relationships. No one person can effectively care for another on their own. Trying to achieve this places you at risk for burnout, depression, and other serious health issues, and also impacts the level of care your parents receive.
Lack of Privacy
Your physical and emotional privacy can both be compromised if you’re sharing living space with your parents. This is particularly true if one or both of your parents have dementia, which can cause them to feel fearful or lost when you step out of the room. Similarly, your parents may struggle to maintain privacy while in your care.
How Can You Conquer These Common Challenges for Family Caregivers?
Fortunately, there is one simple solution to all of these concerns. Absolute Companion Care’s in-home caregivers are available to partner with you to ensure the best care for your parents and a healthier life balance for you. Taking time away from caregiving is not only an excellent idea; it’s imperative.
Our respite care services allow you to take much-needed regular breaks from caregiving for your own self-care, while enriching the lives of your parents. We provide additional opportunities for socialization and engagement in interesting activities combined with the necessary support to promote safety and comfort—so you can have peace of mind knowing your parents are in the best of hands while you are away.
Contact us at 410-357-9640 to learn more about our customized in-home care solutions for older adults. Our services are available in Monkton, Timonium, Towson, and the surrounding areas. Visit our Service Area page to see if we can help in your town.