Caring for an Aging Parent While Working: How Respite Care Can Help
Caring for an aging parent can be one of the most meaningful things we do for someone we love. It can also become difficult to balance with work, children, appointments, household responsibilities and everything else that fills a typical week.
For families in Fayetteville, Springdale and throughout Northwest Arkansas, caregiving often begins gradually. You might start by picking up groceries, helping around the house or driving a parent to appointments.
Over time, those occasional tasks can become a much larger part of your daily routine.
When that happens, respite care can provide additional support for both an aging loved one and the family members helping care for them.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care provides temporary caregiving assistance when a family caregiver needs time away from their caregiving responsibilities.
That help might be needed for a few hours while you work, attend an appointment or run errands. Other families may benefit from regularly scheduled assistance during the week.
The goal isn't to replace a family caregiver.
Instead, respite care can become another part of the family's support system, providing dependable help while an older adult remains in the familiar surroundings of home.
Signs You May Need Additional Caregiving Support
Family caregivers sometimes become so accustomed to helping that they don't realize how much responsibility they've taken on.
Consider how much of your week is spent helping your loved one.
Are you frequently leaving work to handle appointments or unexpected needs?
Are evenings and weekends increasingly devoted to caregiving responsibilities?
Do you worry about your parent while you're away?
Have you stopped doing activities you previously enjoyed because someone needs to be available?
Are other family responsibilities becoming harder to manage?
None of these automatically means you should stop providing care. They may simply indicate that it's time to consider adding some help.
How Can Respite Care Help a Family Caregiver?
Having another caregiver available can provide something that's often difficult for family caregivers to find: time.
A professional caregiver may be able to provide companionship and assistance with everyday activities while a family member takes care of other responsibilities.
Depending on an individual's needs and care plan, support at home may include help with personal care, meal preparation, light household activities, companionship and other daily routines.
Meanwhile, the family caregiver has an opportunity to work, run errands, attend appointments or simply spend some time away from caregiving responsibilities.
It's Okay to Still Be the Son or Daughter
One challenge family caregivers sometimes experience is feeling as though their relationship with a parent has changed.
Instead of stopping by to visit Mom, you're checking whether she has eaten, handling household tasks and reviewing everything that needs to be done.
Instead of watching a Razorbacks game with Dad, you're spending the afternoon taking care of errands.
Those responsibilities may be necessary, but they can begin taking over the relationship.
Additional help at home can allow family members to spend more of their time simply being family again.
Professional caregivers don't replace sons, daughters, spouses or grandchildren. They can help support them.
Respite Care Doesn't Have to Be Full-Time
Families sometimes assume that contacting an in-home care provider means committing to around-the-clock care.
Every family's situation is different.
Some older adults may need significant assistance, while others may benefit from help during certain portions of the week.
The right approach begins by looking at your loved one's needs, daily routine and the areas where additional support would be most helpful.
Those needs may also change over time.
Don't Wait Until You're Completely Overwhelmed
Families often seek help after caregiving has already become difficult to manage.
It can be helpful to explore your options earlier.
Having a plan can make it easier to respond when work becomes especially busy, another family responsibility arises or your parent's needs begin changing.
It can also give your loved one time to become comfortable with the idea of receiving assistance from someone outside the family.
Respite Care in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas
BrightStar Care of Fayetteville provides in-home care services for families in Fayetteville, Springdale and communities throughout Washington County and Northwest Arkansas.
Whether your family needs respite care, companion care, personal care or additional assistance with everyday activities, care can be tailored around the individual needs and routines of your loved one.
If caring for an aging parent is becoming difficult to balance with work and family life, you don't have to wait until caregiving becomes overwhelming to explore additional support.
Sometimes having a helping hand for even part of the week can make a meaningful difference—for your loved one and for the people who care about them most.