Being a family caregiver to your elderly mom or dad is a special privilege that can bring you closer together and strengthen family bonds. However, caring for a dependent adult can take a huge toll on your time, your other responsibilities and your own health. If you are considering hiring an elderly care service but aren’t quite ready to make the leap, consider these important facts about home care for seniors.
Fact 1: Caring for Seniors Is Very Demanding
It’s important to realize that caring for a dependent adult can be very time consuming. Depending on their current health and wellness, your elderly mom or dad may only need checked in on or a few meals made. However, due to illness, injury and old age, many seniors are no longer able to take care of their daily needs. They may need help getting ready in the morning, help going to medical appointments and help in the evenings. This can interfere with even the most dedicated caregiver’s plans.
Fact 2: Many Seniors are Unsafe Alone
From being bedridden to dealing with dementia, there are many physical and mental conditions that make it unsafe for senior to be alone. If this is the case, they may require nearly constant companionship. However, for family caregivers like you that have other responsibilities such as a job and spouse, this can be an impossible demand to meet.
Fact 3: Being a Family Caregiver Has a Big Impact on Life
While being a family caregiver can be rewarding, there’s no doubt that it has a huge impact on your current life. Caregivers spend a lot of time with their aging parent, sometimes moving in with them or having them live in their own home. This creates difficulties with everything from finances and privacy to time management issues. Family caregivers tend to participate less in valuable activities like hobbies, family events, community activities and religious services. It can also cause strain in other relationships such as with a spouse or children.
Fact 4: Family Caregivers Often Burn Out
Studies show that family caregivers have a high risk for numerous health issues, both physical and mental. Chronic stress takes a toll on the body and can trigger conditions like insomnia, anxiety, heart disease, digestive issues and high blood pressure. Family caregivers run the risk of being isolated and lonely due to the demands on their time, and they often don’t manage stress well. Finally, family caregivers can turn to food, alcohol or even drugs to cope with the stress.
The good news is that many of the serious issues that family caregivers experience as they adjust their lives to meet their aging loved one’s needs can be alleviated by hiring an elderly care service. Not only can professional home care aides help out with housekeeping, cooking and personal care duties, but they can be physically present with your elderly loved one whenever you cannot. With in-home care providers, you’ll be benefitting just as much as your aging mom or dad, improving health and wellness to all.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Juno Beach, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200.
Fact 1: Caring for Seniors Is Very Demanding
It’s important to realize that caring for a dependent adult can be very time consuming. Depending on their current health and wellness, your elderly mom or dad may only need checked in on or a few meals made. However, due to illness, injury and old age, many seniors are no longer able to take care of their daily needs. They may need help getting ready in the morning, help going to medical appointments and help in the evenings. This can interfere with even the most dedicated caregiver’s plans.
Fact 2: Many Seniors are Unsafe Alone
From being bedridden to dealing with dementia, there are many physical and mental conditions that make it unsafe for senior to be alone. If this is the case, they may require nearly constant companionship. However, for family caregivers like you that have other responsibilities such as a job and spouse, this can be an impossible demand to meet.
Fact 3: Being a Family Caregiver Has a Big Impact on Life
While being a family caregiver can be rewarding, there’s no doubt that it has a huge impact on your current life. Caregivers spend a lot of time with their aging parent, sometimes moving in with them or having them live in their own home. This creates difficulties with everything from finances and privacy to time management issues. Family caregivers tend to participate less in valuable activities like hobbies, family events, community activities and religious services. It can also cause strain in other relationships such as with a spouse or children.
Fact 4: Family Caregivers Often Burn Out
Studies show that family caregivers have a high risk for numerous health issues, both physical and mental. Chronic stress takes a toll on the body and can trigger conditions like insomnia, anxiety, heart disease, digestive issues and high blood pressure. Family caregivers run the risk of being isolated and lonely due to the demands on their time, and they often don’t manage stress well. Finally, family caregivers can turn to food, alcohol or even drugs to cope with the stress.
The good news is that many of the serious issues that family caregivers experience as they adjust their lives to meet their aging loved one’s needs can be alleviated by hiring an elderly care service. Not only can professional home care aides help out with housekeeping, cooking and personal care duties, but they can be physically present with your elderly loved one whenever you cannot. With in-home care providers, you’ll be benefitting just as much as your aging mom or dad, improving health and wellness to all.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Juno Beach, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200.