You already know respite care offers you the opportunity to relax. After all, respite plays an essential role in the prevention of caregiver burnout. However, you may not know that respite care does far more than just help you feel better. Your senior loved one also benefits from having someone else step in and help with his or her care.
1. Protects Them from Being Left Alone
There are times when you may need to do things you cannot do with your loved one along, such as go to the doctor. Since these things are necessary, you may feel like you have to leave your loved one at home alone if you can’t get another family member to step up and help. Seniors who need assistance with most of their daily routines can easily experience accidents while their caregivers are away for even an hour or two. With respite care, your loved one is protected from incidents such as accidentally starting a house fire or wandering away from home.
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide Home Care. Naples families can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
2. Lets Them Enjoy a Cheerful Chat
Your loved one’s respite caregiver will always show up ready to keep your loved one engaged with cheerful conversations and fun activities. After spending most of his or her time with you, talking to someone new may be refreshing for your parent. In fact, you can consider respite care as an opportunity for your loved one to enjoy social contact he or she might not get anywhere else. Professional caregivers are trained in how to communicate with seniors who have difficulty with language, such as those who are recovering from strokes.
Homecare experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
3. Maintains Their Sense of Dignity
Despite your offers to help with anything, your loved one may still feel like a burden at times. Your loved one may also prefer that you not help with personal tasks such as bathing. With respite care, you can arrange for the professional caregiver to help with these types of tasks while you’re away, which allows your loved one to accept help while still maintaining a sense of privacy.
4. Gives Them Space
Spending every single moment together is a surefire way to end up in an argument. Your loved one deserves to have a break from you just as much as you need respite from your duties. This may be especially true if you find your relationship has been filled with tension lately.
5. Offers a Change of Pace
Seniors do best when they follow routines, yet doing the same things every day can get boring. Respite caregivers will follow your loved one’s schedule, but they’ll also naturally do things slightly differently. Whether the caregiver plays a different song while your loved one gets ready for the day or suggests a new game to play together, your loved one benefits from having things changed up now and then so life stays interesting.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of Respite Care Naples seniors can depend on. Call us today to find out how we can assist you and your loved one.
