Caregiving can be a challenging and rewarding experience for loved ones. But if you are providing care for an aging parent, it can also be isolating, stressful, and financially draining. Before facing this situation, you may want to know “can a family member be an effective caregiver?”
Who Is Considered A Caregiver?
A caregiver is anyone who provides care and support to an individual with a disability or chronic illness. Many families include multiple caregivers, such as family members, friends or neighbors. However, there are a number of people outside the family who can also make valuable contributions to your loved one’s care. These include:
- Nurses and home health aides who provide basic personal care services like bathing, dressing, feeding and medication management. They may also assist with tasks such as cooking, cleaning and laundry.
- Physical therapists who help patients develop strength and endurance through exercise programs.
- Occupational therapists who teach patients how to use their bodies more effectively in daily activities like eating, dressing and grooming.
- Social workers who help patients manage their emotional responses to illness or injury by providing counselling sessions that address concerns such as depression or anxiety.
If you have a family member or other loved one with special needs, seeking outside assistance to ensure they get the care they need is not only appreciated, it’s vital to the health and well-being of your loved one. Caring for a parent in need can be stressful and taxing, to say the least. You may even find yourself making sacrifices that take their toll on your finances, social life and career aspirations. However, with proper support, you can help your loved ones live more comfortably with their situation, meaning you won’t have to put your life on hold just because they aren’t able.
Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout is real and common among those who provide care for an elderly loved one full-time at home. It’s easy for caregivers to get overwhelmed when they’re responsible for helping someone bathe, eat and complete other daily tasks — all while trying to maintain their own personal lives as well. Because caregivers often feel overworked and underappreciated, they often have stress levels that become disruptive in other areas of their lives as well. Some signs of caregiver burnout include:
- Feeling guilty about taking time off from work;
- Feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities and duties at home or work;
- Losing interest in activities outside of work and home;
- Developing health problems because of overwork or exhaustion.
When this happens, your parents may need more than just additional assistance with daily tasks; they may need advanced companion care and professional medical care as well. By taking advantage of home health aides or other services provided by Saige Homecare, you can rest assured that your loved one will be taken care of with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
Why Using Home Care Services May Be A Better Option
No matter what you choose, it’s important to consider hiring a professional caregiver. When care needs become more complex you may quickly find yourself feeling in-over-your-head dealing with medical situations that should be monitored by medical professionals.
Dealing with personal care such as dressing, toileting, bathing etc may not be a comfortable experience between a son/daughter and parent. Your mother or father may rather maintain their privacy with a hired care professional so you can simply be the loving son or daughter.
The more time you can spend doing what you love, the better — and that goes double when it comes to creating memories with your aging loved ones.
Let the experts at Saige Homecare become the professional caregivers so you can remain the loving son/daughter.