Caregivers in Ralston NE
Those adults who have taken on the role of being a family caregiver for their elderly parents are at much higher risk of suffering serious stress and its complications than adults their age who have not taken on this role. This is especially true for those adult children who are caring for a senior who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This stress can make you particularly vulnerable to infections and illness, mental and emotional health complications, and strain on relationships throughout your life. Taking time out from your care routine and focusing more on yourself can be a vital step in managing this stress and protecting not only yourself, but the quality of the care that you give your parent as well. One way that you can achieve this time away is through respite care.
Not all family caregivers have careers, children, or other obligations that require that they are away from their elderly parents for long stretches of time, but time away and a break from caregiving are vital to a family caregiver’s peace of mind. Respite care is temporary, short-term care designed to give you a break when you need it. This could mean an afternoon occasionally, a weekend away, or even a weeklong getaway so that you can take some time to yourself away from your care efforts.
Use these tips to help make effective and beneficial use of respite care when caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease:
• Talk to your parent about your intention to take time away as far in advance as possible. This gives them the chance to get accustomed to the idea and feel more in control of the situation.
• Let others in your care network know that you will be taking some time away, when and how long you will be gone, and your basic itinerary for your time if you will be gone for more than a day. This ensures that your parent still has access to people they know and are familiar with, and you can know that you have people you can contact to check in on your loved one while you are away.
• Leave clear instructions for the care provider, including important information about your parent such as any allergies that they suffer, preferences, and information about their usual care routine.
If you have been caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s disease and recognize that you are in need of additional assistance, or you want to be prepared for when your loved one progresses further into the disease, now is the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them. An in-home care services provider can create a personalized approach to care, support, and assistance for your elderly loved one that is specifically designed to not only help them to handle the symptoms and issues that they are currently facing, but also the symptoms and challenges that will come as their disease progresses further. This means that your parent will feel more prepared and that you will feel more confident that even as they start to experience more advanced challenges and issues, they will have the care and support that they need to handle it effectively.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Ralston, NE, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors® Greater Omaha at (402) 215-0308 today.