Elder Care in Cascade, MI – Reward Yourself with Respite Breaks

Being a caregiver isn’t easy no matter what your situation is. Some certainly have more responsibility to bear with caring for mobility challenged parents or a mother or father with dementia. Loving your parent enough to care for them is greatly rewarding but it can be too much stress on one person’s shoulders. Make sure you are taking care of yourself as well as devoting your time to your aging parent. If you don’t see to yourself first, you’ll be in no fit shape to care for anyone else, let alone someone who really needs you.

How to take breaks from Caregiving

You may feel a little guilty thinking of yourself when your elderly loved one is obviously struggling. This is completely normal, but don’t let it rule your life. You have to have some time for your own projects, hobbies, and other family members. Even just a little ‘me time’ every week will make a huge difference. If you aren’t already, consider hiring home care for the elderly to take care of your parent’s needs a few days a week so you can take respite breaks. Here are a few ideas of how you can balance your caregiving with the rest of your life:

• Talk to your parent about your needs. When you’re planning some time off for yourself, keep them in the loop and assure them that it will benefit both of you. They can use this time to socialize with a professional caregiver and other family members.
• Make a list for the person that will be filling in for you of what needs your parent has. If there’s a particular schedule your mother or father likes to stick to, or something they often forget, make note of it. Search for a caregiver who is able to take on the unique needs of your parent.
• Stay organized while you’re leaving the caregiving to someone else. Double check the calendar for appointments your parent will need to see to during this time and even include a reminder for yourself to call or remind the caregiver.
• Do something that you really enjoy on your time off and use the time to your advantage. This is the time to rekindle that hobby, go to lunch with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, take a long bath, or getting some physical activity.
• Take regular breaks – even every day, if only for a few minutes. Having them periodically instead of a longer break only once in a while will help you stay sane.
• Make sure you realize the inevitability of burnout before it happens. Caregiver stress can become too much and make you frustrated and angry, so recognize the signs and take some time to relax your worries away.

If you or someone you know needs help with elder care in Cascade, MI, contact the caregivers at Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.