It can happen slowly or in a matter of moments. Whether it’s for an aging parent or recovering sibling, your responsibilities in life can shift from those of a full-time employee to an unpaid caregiver. The National Alliance for Caregiving estimates 29 percent of Americans provide some sort of care to ill, disabled or aging family members or friends.
Sometimes that means moving your loved one into your home. Sometimes it means daily trips to their home to provide care. Whichever it is, we also understand that you may not feel comfortable signing away complete caregiving responsibilities to a professional caretaker or nursing home.
But while we all care deeply for our loved ones, if you are a caregiver for a loved one, you know that caregiving is often a full-time job that can impact your personal well-being and work performance.
That’s why FirstLight Home Care – South Sound in Olympia offers Respite Care, a service is designed to offer you temporary relief by having a professional caregiver come in and take care of your loved ones when you are unable to do so.
Here are four benefits of investing in Olympia respite care services:
- Increased time. Without help, family caregivers spend on average 20 hours a week taking care of their loved ones. Respite care gives you time back so you can focus on your daily commitments while your loved ones are cared for at the same time.
- Decreased stress. From physical, emotional and financial stress, caregiving can be tough, especially if you’re juggling work and family at the same time. Respite care can help you rest and relax when you need it most. In fact, 98 percent of family caregivers said Respite Care increased their ability to provide a less stressful environment at home, according to the Oklahoma Respite Resource Network.
- Better health. Family caregivers tend to forego their personal health for the sake of their loved ones, ultimately leading to increased illness. Respite care can help you stay healthy by giving you more time to rest. Even if it’s just four hours per week, 64 percent of family caregivers reported improved physical health, while 78 percent claimed better emotional health as a result of respite care.
- Closer Family Ties. When relatives act as caregivers, they can often lose sight of the well-being of their entire family. Respite care has been shown to improve the bond between family members both healthy and in-need. More often than not, the lack of respite care will lead to out-of-home assisted living, which may not be the best solution for your loved one. Allowing yourself the freedom to be a member of your family instead of a professional caregiver, even for just a few hours a week, can offer a better perspective on your situation.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to take a break, including family caregivers. It is okay to want time to yourself, and Olympia respite care can provide the support needed to keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy.
Contact FirstLight Home Care – South Sound to see how we might help.