Vacation days, employer-provided personal time off (PTO), and 3-day holiday weekends – are a few of the perks of working for a company.
Unfortunately, there aren’t benefits like these available for family caregivers. Most caregivers are busy caring for a loved one on holidays and weekends, and there is no PTO. Their days, and often their nights, are long and can run together as time marches on.
Like all workers, caregivers need blocks of time off to enjoy life and stay fresh to continue performing their jobs well. Fortunately, home care agencies like Elder Home Care provide respite care services to help family caregivers take some well-deserved and much-needed time off.
Here are a few reasons you need respite care if you’re a family caregiver or suggest it to a family member.
Time to rest and recharge
Being a family caregiver is often a 24/7 job, and many caregivers are reluctant to take a break. They fear their loved one will need them when they’re not available.
Respite care provided by a trained, professional caregiver is a way for someone to step in and help a family caregiver rest up and take some personal time without worrying that their senior loved one isn’t getting the care they need. They can enjoy their time away with peace of mind.
Social engagement
Family caregivers can slowly become isolated as they remain at home with an aging loved one. Time spent with family and friends happens less and less, which can lead to a caregiver feeling lonely and depressed.
Respite care gives the family caregiver more time to spend with family and friends. They can reconnect with the people that matter to them and nurture these important relationships.
Improves a caregiver’s health
Research by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) has found the longer a family caregiver provides care, the more likely they are to report fair or poor health.
Respite care provides a caregiver with regular breaks, giving them time to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally. Everyone who works needs regular periods of downtime, including family caregivers.
Gives loved ones a break, too
Being together constantly with someone can eventually weigh on both people. Older adults receiving care often enjoy spending time with another caregiver and socializing with a fresh face. In addition, the relationship between a family caregiver and their loved one often improves when they have time apart regularly.
Gives a caregiver time to enjoy their hobbies and personal interests
Respite care helps family caregivers have time to do things that personally interest them, whether it be taking a yoga or aerobics class, learning a new language, playing their favorite instrument, or just walking along quietly, enjoying nature.
Having this time increases a family caregiver’s happiness, reduces stress, restores their zest for life, and improves their mood. Not only is this healthy for the caregiver, but it also results in better care for the person they’re caring for.
Respite Care for New York Family Caregivers
A compassionate, nurturing caregiver from Elder Home Care can provide the respite care you and your family need and deserve. We can help you take a break for a few hours a day, one day or more a week, or a week at a time.
If you’re loved one lives in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, Manhattan, Westchester, Abington, PA, or the Port Washington area – we’re here for you. Contact us today at. Our respite care service is affordable, and our caregivers will treat your loved ones with the respect they deserve.
