Lack of sleep, privacy, and support are just some of the typical challenges family caregivers face.
Taking care of your aging parents is a remarkably rewarding act of love. As you reflect on the care they provided for you when you were growing up, you now are able to reciprocate. It allows you to take your relationship with your parents to a whole new level.
That being said, providing care for family members is not always a bed of roses. It is important to understand the pitfalls you may encounter and to know how to manage them to safeguard your own health and wellness. A few of the typical challenges family caregivers face include:
Lack of Privacy
Your physical and emotional privacy can both be compromised if you’re sharing living space with your parents. This is especially true if one or both of your parents have dementia, which could cause them to feel fearful or lost when you step out of the room. Likewise, your parents may struggle to maintain privacy while in your care.
Lack of Sleep
Interrupted sleep can originate from an older adult whose circadian clock has shifted, causing them to waken more frequently during the night. It can be caused by stress and worry. If dementia is a factor, sundowning and wandering can cause you to stay on alert. Ample sleep is essential to your ability to offer the best care for your parents, as well as for your own emotional and physical wellness.
Lack of Support
You might feel as if the lion’s share of caregiving falls on your shoulders. This can lead you to assume you are solely responsible for your parents’ care, which is not just overwhelming, but can cause hurt feelings and frustration in other relationships. No one person can effectively care for another on their own. Attempting to do this places you at an increased risk for burnout, depression, and other serious health issues, and also impacts the level of care your parents receive.
How Can You Tackle These Challenges in Caregiving?
Fortunately, there is one simple solution to all of these concerns. Live Free Home Health 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 isn’t just a good idea; it is essential.
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 enjoyable activities combined with the necessary support to promote safety and comfort—so you can have peace of mind knowing your parents are in the very best of hands while you’re away.
Contact us at 603-217-0149 to learn more about our personalized in-home care solutions for older adults. Our services are available in Bow, New Hampton, Epsom, and the surrounding areas. Visit our Service Area page to see if we can help in your area.