What does a standard day look like for you as a family caregiver? For many people, it begins before sunrise, helping a senior loved one who has difficulty sleeping through the night and is in need of assistance, or at least someone to talk to. After that, the day could be a flurry of activities: helping with personal care, preparing meals, running errands, providing transportation to exercise classes, medical appointments, or other outings – the list goes on and on.
What an average day might not include, however, is personal time for you, to take part in things you enjoy or catching up with a good friend over a relaxing dinner. Even contemplating such ideas might make you feel guilty. Yet self-care is really important to your health and wellness as a caregiver. To take it a step further, the person you are caring for also needs you to take care of yourself. Doing this enables you to be more patient, relaxed, and effective in providing care.
It is true: your caregiving role is essential. A person you love is relying on you, and stepping away to care for yourself is not easy! To further complicate matters, the individual in your care may balk at the notion of having somebody else temporarily fill your shoes. The following tips will help you take necessary breaks from care while guaranteeing the senior you love will not only accept these breaks, but also actually enjoy spending time with a caregiver providing home health care services.
Compassionate Nursing Services is the ideal choice for respite and home health care services that allow you to take the time needed for self-care. As a provider of Chesterfield home care services and caregiving in the surrounding areas, we hire only the very best caregivers to ensure the highest quality care for the older adults we serve. Call us today at 314-432-4312 to learn more!
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