As a daughter, your responsibilities may include caring for a senior loved one. Aging adults with dementia require a substantial amount of care, but balancing life and dementia caregiving can be emotionally and physically overwhelming. Many daughters choose to care for their elderly parents on their own, rather than hire an in-home care company that can provide high-quality, professional care. This presents extreme challenges when balancing life’s other responsibilities. According to Stanford University School of Medicine, about 8.4 million people in the U.S. may have some form of dementia by 2030. Unpaid family members care for 83 percent of such individuals today, and daughters are 28 percent more likely to provide personal care for a parent than a son.
What does this mean? For individuals, it means a greater likelihood of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion and extreme stress from providing care instead of relying on in-home care. Dementia caregivers are seven times more at risk of exhaustion and three times more likely to be stressed than those who didn’t provide care. Hiring a home care professional is one solution. However, family members may want a strong role in home care rather than pay for full-service home care. Here are some tips for lowering your stress levels.
Reduce Your Load
Family caregivers have a lot on their plate. Identify what’s most important to you and your family. If there’s no time for certain activities, spend time on the most important tasks. Also, purchase food that’s easy to cook, or prepare larger quantities that can be frozen and consumed later.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Align Home Care, a leading provider of home care Portland, ME, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Keep a Positive Outlook
Self-judgment can make caring for seniors more difficult. Love and compassion should be prioritized, but caregivers often feel anxiety, anger, shame, and depression. Believing you’re doing your best is important. So is accepting your capabilities for the present day and not dwelling on the past or future. If it’s too much to bear, realize caregiver agencies are out there to help.
When researching agencies that provide elder 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 Align Home Care.
Stay Connected
Daughters who are caregivers tend to become isolated. By confiding in close friends, you can vent your frustrations or talk about your hopes, dreams, and the finer things in life. Their positive feedback can be a morale booster.
Seek Outside Help
Asking for respite care is nothing to be ashamed of. There are caregiver services that can assist you. Senior care assistance comes with the perks of having a Care Manager, in-home caregiver, and any level of in-align home care you may need. Being a family caregiver can take its toll. Hiring a professional dementia caregiver and receiving in-home memory care or senior care assistance can boost your health, spirit, and wellbeing and help your loved one maintain a high quality of life in several ways.
Caring for a senior with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care Portland families can rely on. Professional dementia caregivers help seniors with dementia stay safe and comfortable at home by preventing wandering, providing cognitive stimulation, and assisting with household chores. Reach out to Align Home Care today at (207) 835-3490 to find out how we can help you and your loved one.