Being a family caregiver can be an overwhelming job. If you’re exhausted and thinking about quitting, look for ways to simplify your caregiving duties before giving up. Here are some things family caregivers can do before they quit caregiving altogether.
Develop a Schedule that Works
Many caregivers take on more than they can handle, leading to mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Staying organized and maintaining a schedule can simplify the caregiving process. If your loved one’s health requires you to take on additional responsibility and give up more of your free time, ask other family members to step up. Staying organized can make caregiving less chaotic.
For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Portland, ME, Align Home Care is a trusted name in respite and hourly care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.
Allow Yourself to Vent
Keeping negative feelings inside can make things worse. Speak about the caregiving issues you face each day with a mentor, support group, or sibling. Refrain from venting in front of your loved one, as doing so could cause him or her to feel like a burden. However, you’ll need to find someone you can vent to. Be honest about your feelings, and get it all out. Holding your true emotions back could lead to resentment, anger, and regret. Remember that venting doesn’t make you a bad caregiver.
Take a Short Leave from Caregiving
Hire an in-home caregiver to come and help out while you take a temporary break from caregiving. You can take off for a couple of weeks or a few months. While on leave, you can develop a better caregiving plan that simplifies your daily duties. Once you return to your duties, continue to take extended breaks throughout the year so you have time to spend on self-care.
Home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
Move Your Parent into Your Home
If going from house to house each day is putting a strain on your mental and physical wellbeing, consider asking your loved one to move into your home. Moving your loved one in with you may give you more time to handle your personal commitments without compromising a lot of your social time. You can pay bills for one home, go grocery shopping for one residence, do the cleaning and laundry all in one house, and so on. Explain to your spouse, your children, and your parent how moving in could reduce the amount of stress you’re under. Always look for ways to simplify your caregiving duties before you give up on the role completely.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Align Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. If your loved one needs professional 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.