How Home Care Can Help with Respite for Family Members

By Jessica Ott | June 20, 2019 |

If you and your family members are providing care to an older adult relative, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re one of the 34.2 million people in the United States who have provided assistance to someone who is aged 50 or older. Family caregivers like you do all kinds of things for their aging relatives.

Home Care Littlestown PA – How Home Care Can Help with Respite for Family Members

Here are some statistics from the Family Caregiver Alliance about just how family caregivers spend their time:

13 days each month are spent shopping, making food, cleaning the house, doing laundry, and similar tasks.
6 days a month are spent on feeding, toileting, dressing, grooming, and bathing.
13 hours are spent researching a condition or services.

Because of the difficulty of the responsibilities placed on family caregivers, they are susceptible to burnout. Someone experiencing burnout is likely to feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and frustrated. One of the best ways to prevent or relieve caregiver burnout is to get someone to help with caregiver duties. Hiring home care is an excellent way to provide respite for family members of older adults.

Why Is Respite Important?

Respite is defined as “a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.” Taking a break from the difficulties of caregiving is important because it allows caregivers the time to take care of their own physical and emotional needs.

Studies show that family caregivers tend to neglect their own health. They skip medical appointments, lack the time or energy to exercise, and fail to eat a balanced diet. As a result, they may become seriously ill. They are at a higher risk for conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

What Can Home Care Do?

Home care providers are people who come to the senior’s house to help them with nearly anything a family member can. They can come for just a few hours a day, entire days, or even stay overnight with a senior who cannot be left alone.

Some of the things home care providers can do are:

Help the senior to dress, bathe, or use the toilet.
Prepare healthy meals and snacks.
Drive the older adult places, like the grocery store, to medical appointments, or to social engagements.
Offer companionship and meaningful activities.
Remind the older adult to take medications.
Assist the senior to move safely about.

While home care is with your aging relative, you can relax knowing that they are safe and well cared for. Home care can give you back the time you need to take better care of yourself, spend time with your friends, or attend to other responsibilities.

Sources: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-statistics-demographics
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/caregiver-recognizing-burnout#1
https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-health

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Littlestown PA, please talk to us. Our friendly staff can answer all of your questions. In-home Senior Care in Adams and York Counties, PA. Call Today: (717) 698-8258.

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Jessica Ott

Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC

Jessica Ott is the Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC.

A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC is dedicated to providing our clients with a better quality of life through our support services while maintaining their independence in the comfort of their own home.

As a Home Care Agency licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we can provide families with peace of mind, knowing their loved one is in good hands.

We will work with you to prepare a care plan that incorporates your needs, your wishes, and your preferred schedule. Each client is matched with a caregiver who can best meet their individual needs, whether they reside in a house, apartment, condominium, assisted living, or nursing community.