Study after study reveals that seniors overwhelmingly want to live at home as they get older. But family members often worry about their senior parents living alone at home. In-home care is the best solution to make everyone happy. Your senior loved one can stay in their own home where they are comfortable, and you can have the peace of mind knowing that they are getting help. But what does in-home care mean exactly? If you and your senior parent are interested in how in-home care can help them live independently, here are a few things to know:

It’s Customizable

Every senior has unique care needs. Some seniors may need minimal care and help around the house right now, while other seniors who have challenges or health conditions may need more help. And over time your senior parent’s needs may change as their health changes. Home care for seniors is designed to be built around what care your senior loved one needs and how much care you are able to provide. A great care provider will work with you and your senior loved one to create the perfect care plan for your family’s needs.

It’s Available Around The Clock

Caring for seniors isn’t just available from 9-5. Sometimes seniors are fine during the day but need a little extra help and reassurance at night. In other cases seniors may need care 24-hours a day to make sure that they are safe at home. It’s important to think outside the box when it comes to figuring out what the best in-home care is for your senior loved one.

There Are Different Types Of Care Available

Home care for seniors can mean many things. For some seniors home care may consist of help with housekeeping and cooking. For others it might mean medication management. And other seniors may need companion care more than any other type of care. Together you and your senior loved one can figure out what types of care will keep your senior loved one safe and happy at home right now and as they get older.

In-Home Care Can Offer You Respite

If you are caring for your senior parent part time or most of the time in-home care can give you the break that you need. When you need some time off for your own mental and physical health, in-home care can take over for you. Or, if you can only be with your senior loved one for certain hours of the day because you work or have a family home care can fill in the gaps and make sure that your senior loved one is cared for the rest of the day or night. Family caregivers often have home care at night for their senior parent so that they can get the sleep they need.

Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place-growing-older-home

If you or an aging loved one is considering in-home care in Edina, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.

Resilience fatigue is an actual condition that many family caregivers run into. Could you have resilience fatigue and not know it? Here is everything you need to know about this issue.

Resilience Fatigue Explained

When you’re helping your mom or dad every day, you probably don’t take many breaks. You know they depend on you, so you make sure there is no point where you’re unavailable. You keep powering through each day, even when you’re tired, down, or frustrated.

You show up with a smile on your face and a positive attitude. It’s all a front, however, as you really didn’t want to get out of bed and make the drive to your parents’ home. You’re acting cheerful, but the truth is you’ve been “on” for so long that you’re burning out.

That’s resilience fatigue. You’ve been pushing yourself to remain positive and motivated, and it’s now backfiring. You’re desperate for a break, but you can’t see how to make it work.

Why Do Many Family Caregivers Become Exhausted?

Helping your parents with their daily activities shouldn’t be so tiring. Why is it? A lot of it comes down to the extra work you take on. You’re helping your parents out, which makes you feel helpful, but you also have everything else you do daily.

You have a full-time job, so you’re rushing from work to help your parents with dinner. After that, you head home where you have to get laundry started, walk your dog, and make sure your kids have eaten and done their homework.

Many family caregivers find it hard to set limits and say no. You’re going from a 40-hour workweek to 40 hours at work, plus an average of 22 hours helping your mom and dad, and the commute time between work, their home, and your home. Holding a full-time and unpaid part-time position is exhausting.

What Can You Do?

You need to leave time for yourself. If you’re working 40 hours and have an hour commute twice a day, that’s 50 hours a week already. Add in 20 hours with your parents, and it’s too much.

You don’t have to ignore your parents, but you can set limits. Agree to help them with laundry on weekends, but they need to have home care during the week to have nights to yourself.

One of the best ways to prevent resilience fatigue is by making sure you take days off now and then. It’s okay to want to be there for your parents, but you can’t lose track of yourself in the process. Call a home care agency and ask about respite care.

Respite care enables you to take time off every now and then. While you’re focusing on your own interests and needs, your parents have caregivers to makes sure their needs are met.

Sources:
https://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AARP1340_RR_Caregiving50Plus_508.pdf

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in St. Louis Park, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.