One family caregiver cannot possibly care for an older loved one 24/7 without assistance. Family members can pitch in to help. However, in-home respite care is another possibility. There are many benefits to hiring a respite caregiver.
1. High-Quality Care
The staff members employed by home care agencies have the special training and experience needed to care for seniors living with all types of injuries and medical conditions. They’ve typically gone through the necessary instruction and acquired state certification or licensing to capably perform their tasks. To maintain their credentials, professional caregivers also attend ongoing educational classes that enhance their knowledge and skills.
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 elderly home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
2. Customized Care
Respite care agencies are able to customize care to fit both the senior’s needs and the family’s budget. Caregivers might only be needed occasionally. Some families might prefer someone to be present during the night hours if their loved ones live with cognitive impairment. A caregiver might be needed to simply provide occasional companionship or perform basic household or personal care duties.
3. Backup Care
You might need time to care for your own family, run errands, or simply have time to yourself. For instance, you might come down with an illness and not want to pass the cold or flu to your loved one, or perhaps you just need time away to refresh and rejuvenate yourself. Under any of these circumstances, a respite caregiver can be a welcome addition to your caregiving team.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated senior home care, Portland, ME, families can turn to Align Home Care. 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.
4. Socialization
Hiring someone new to come into the home and provide care and companionship enables housebound seniors to have opportunities to socialize. Aging adults enjoy meeting and learning about new people and sharing their lives and experiences with someone other than family members. When seniors become acquainted with one or more routine respite caregivers, they broaden their social circles.
5. Knowledge Resource
The experience, knowledge, and skills respite caregivers possess benefit both families and seniors. Respite caregivers can pass on a wealth of knowledge to families in the form of techniques and methods for providing a higher level of care for their loved ones. Respite caregivers can demonstrate better ways to handle a difficult senior with Alzheimer’s or easier methods to reposition a senior recovering from an injury. Families are typically welcome to ask questions and learn from professional caregivers.
6. Ability to Age at Home
Being able to remain in the familiar comfort of home has been shown to enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults, especially those with diminished cognitive and physical abilities. When family members are unable to provide the care and monitoring a senior needs, a respite caregiver can fill in the gaps. By receiving care from professionals, seniors are more likely to maintain better health, which also prevents potential accidents and hospitalizations.
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. Portland families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Align Home Care. 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. If your loved one needs professional respite care, Align Home Care is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (207) 835-3490 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.