Caring for your aging parents is an incredibly rewarding act of love. As you reflect on the care they provided to you when you were growing up, you now have the opportunity to do the same. It allows you to take your relationship with your parents to a whole new level.
Having said that, providing care for loved ones is not always a bed of roses. It’s important to understand the hurdles you may experience and to understand how to manage them to protect your own health and well-being. A few of the common challenges in caregiving include:
Lack of Support
You may feel as if the lion’s share of caregiving falls on your shoulders. This may lead you to assume you are solely responsible for your parents’ care, which is not only overwhelming, but can cause frustration and hurt feelings in other relationships. No one person can effectively care for another on their own. Attempting to do this places you at risk for depression, burnout, and other serious health problems, and also impacts the level of care your parents receive.
Lack of Sleep
Interrupted sleep can stem from an older adult whose circadian clock has shifted, causing them to waken more often during the night. It can be the result of stress and worry. If dementia is a factor, wandering and sundowning may cause you to stay on alert. Ample sleep is crucial to your ability to offer the most effective care for your parents, as well as for your own emotional and physical wellness.
Lack of Privacy
Your physical and emotional privacy can both be affected if you’re sharing living space with your parents. This is especially true if one or both of your parents have dementia, which can cause them to feel lost or fearful when you step out of the room. Similarly, your parents may struggle to maintain privacy while in your care.
How Can You Combat These Challenges in Caregiving?
Thankfully, there is one simple solution to all of these concerns. Believers Home Care’s in-home caregivers are available to partner with you to ensure the best care for your parents and a healthier life balance for you. Taking time away from caregiving is not just an excellent idea; it’s essential.
Our respite care services allow you to take necessary regular breaks from caregiving for your own self-care, while enriching the lives of your parents. We provide additional opportunities for socialization and engagement in enjoyable activities together with the necessary support to promote comfort and safety—so you can have peace of mind in knowing your parents are in the very best of hands while you’re away.
Last modified: February 14, 2024
