Being a caregiver can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be very stressful. It takes a lot to be responsible for someone’s care, especially if you were thrust into the role unexpectedly or have no experience providing care. It can feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end with no support. If your loved one is dealing with something such as dementia or another chronic disease that requires specialized care, it can be even more overwhelming.
Fortunately, you’re not alone. There are resources and support groups out there that provide help for family caregivers. Reliant Home Care Services is here to assist you with all of your family caregiving needs, whether it’s daily in-home care or the occasional respite visit. Let’s take a look at the resources and other types of caregiver help that are available.
The Importance of Caregiver Support
Being a caregiver isn’t easy. You are essentially taking on the responsibility of keeping your loved one healthy and happy. It’s a lot, and it can leave you feeling exhausted. If you’re trying to raise a family or work while also providing care, you may not be getting enough sleep or nourishing yourself. This can result in getting ill more often. You may also skip your own doctor’s visits and ignore your own care.
In addition to physical issues, there are also emotional and mental burdens. You and your loved one may end up arguing more often, especially if you disagree on what care they need. You may fight with siblings and other family members over care, too. There’s also mental and emotional fatigue. Constantly worrying about your loved one can be exhausting.
Many caregivers simply keep pushing forward until they’re physically or mentally unable to. This doesn’t help your loved one or you. Instead, you need to look for support for caregivers so you can take a break when you need it. If you’re not in good health, how can you provide your loved one with the care they deserve? That’s the entire reason why caregiver support services exist.
Types of Caregiver Support
Fortunately, there are various caregiver services available to help reduce the amount of stress you’re under while still allowing your loved one the independent living they want. These include respite care, support groups, counseling, and online resources.
Respite Care – what do you do if you’re the only caregiver your loved one has but you are ill or need to attend to other things? Respite care provides a temporary caregiver to assist your loved one so you can take care of other business or simply take a day to rest and recharge.
Support groups – there are various support groups in-person and online for caregivers. These groups give you a space to talk to others who are going through the same things you are, learn more about being a caregiver, or even vent about your experiences.
Counseling – seeing a counselor or therapist can be very helpful in processing your thoughts and feelings on caregiving and about your loved one’s health in general. Being a caregiver often means facing the fact that your loved one is aging and may be entering the last phase of their life. That can be a hard truth to accept. This is one of care giving services that many people overlook or skip over, but it can be vital to ensuring you’re able to properly care for your loved one.
Online resources – there are various caregiver websites available with links to information on providing care, how to address various diseases, and more.
Reliant provides respite services, information on support groups and counseling, and links to many caregiver sites and other resources. Our goal is to make certain you have all the tools you need to provide care and help your loved one continue to live independently.
Respite Care: A Break for Family Caregivers
Respite care is essentially a way for you to take a break while still ensuring your loved one has a caregiver. Respite care providers are fully trained, knowledgeable caregivers who will stay with your loved one for a few hours, a day, or even a week or more. They come as you need them, so you can schedule respite care anywhere from a couple of hours a month to a specific day every week. It all depends on how often you need to make use of these caretaker services. While your respite care provider stays with your loved one, you can run errands, attend important appointments, or rest and relax.
In addition to in-home respite care, there are a few other respite options. Adult day centers provide a place for seniors to meet others while still receiving the care they need. Short-term care facilities are another form of home care and family support. Your loved one can stay at one of these facilities for several days or longer. They’re great if you have to go out of town or if you’re dealing with an injury or serious incident.
Finding Support Groups and Counseling
Finding these resources isn’t always easy, but that’s why Reliant is here. We can help you connect with support groups and other caregiver organizations, including online and offline programs. We have gathered information on various resources in Riverside County, California, and the U.S. Whether you want to talk to other caregivers through an online forum or are looking for a counselor to help you manage stress, we can help. There are many options out there, so you’re sure to find a program, caregiver resource, or therapist who can help you.
Online Resources for Caregivers
In addition to finding local resources, there are many caregiver websites out there. For example, the Alzheimer Association’s website is a vital resource for caregivers with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The VA website can answer many questions for caregivers for veterans. We have put together an caregiver site with links to many of these resources, and we can always help you find specific resources for you and your loved one.
Financial Assistance for Caregivers
Finances are one of the most stressful parts of elder care. Again, Reliant is here to provide you with various elder care resources. Whether you need help finding doctors that take your loved one’s insurance or financial assistance for respite care, we’ll help make those connections. There is financial support for caregivers out there if you know where to look, and we’ll help you find those resources.
Reliant Home Care Services: Supporting Family Caregivers
Reliant Home Care Services is here to provide in-home care, respite care, and specialized care for those in Riverside County. Whether you need us on a daily basis or are looking for respite care every few weeks, our caregiver services have you covered. We understand what it takes to be a caregiver, and we know that it can be stressful.
As a caregiver, you’ve fully committed yourself to taking care of a loved one, but you mustn’t forget to take care of yourself, too. If your health declines, you’re not going to be able to help your loved one. If you’re stressed out, you may find that you snap at your loved one or get frustrated with them. This doesn’t help, especially for those with loved ones who struggle with dementia. When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, reach out to Reliant. Our respite care may be the exact form of senior caregiver assistance that you need.
Want to learn more? Contact Reliant today to discuss your respite care needs.