It isn’t uncommon for family and friends to be the primary caregivers for their loved ones who need assistance with day-to-day life. As much as we want to do all we can for anyone we care about that relies on our help, this job can physically, emotionally and economically tough at times. Thankfully there is a solution to help anyone that needs a little break, respite care.
To put it simply, respite care means taking a break from caring, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else. There are lots of different respite care options. They range from getting a volunteer to sit with the person you look after for a few hours, to a short stay in a specialist home so you can go on holiday. For anyone that is considering respite care, Safehands Live-in Care have put together a list of advantages of this type of care.
Reduces stress
One of the main reasons why people turn to some form of respite care is to reduce stress and relieve feelings of frustration and exhaustion. There is no denying that caring for another person is stressful and when you feel overwhelmed by this care you will probably find that your patience runs thin and the quality of the care you provide decreases. Don’t ever feel bad, this is completely normal, you just need a break and private respite care will provide this.
Provides ‘free time’ to the carer
Looking after someone whilst juggling all other aspects of life can be impossible sometimes. If you work and have your own family you just can’t be in multiple places at once. It is important to remember that respite care is for carers too and you shouldn’t be ashamed of this. Taking some time for yourself will give you the chance to enjoy spending time with other people and doing things for yourself without feeling guilty as you will know that your loved one is in safe hands.
Improves relationships
Becoming someones carer will change your relationship with that person whether you intend for it to or not. For example, if you take care of your mum or dad, they can feel bad that you’re now taking care of them when it used to be the other way round. This can often cause friction and break down the special relationship that you had prior to providing care. Simply taking some time apart and using respite care can improve your relationship and allow you to enjoy each others company how you used to again.
Experience a change of scenery
When your loved one is unable to get out and about as easily as they used to, it is common for them to spend a lot of time at home. Taking advantage of respite care will give them a chance to go to new places and essentially have a holiday of their own. They will meet new people, socialise and enjoy new experiences. This can be incredibly beneficial for them and their wellbeing in general. More often than not, they will enjoy their respite care just as much as you have, refreshing you both.
Organising respite care
Now you know that respite care is there to help, don’t be afraid to accept this help. Everyone needs a break sometimes and no one will judge you for taking advantage of these services. When organising your respite care, you can sometimes go through the NHS, your local council or even charities. However, many people choose to source private respite care for their loved ones, this allows you to handpick the care agency that will be helping look your family or friends.
When deciding to outsource private respite care, Safehands Live-in Care can help. Their home respite service provides families with specialist live-in care on a short term basis enabling a carer or loved one to take a break. One of their friendly professional team will step in to care for your loved one and his can involve anything from companionship, cooking, cleaning through to personal care, medication management or more complex support for specialist conditions. Whatever your loved ones needs, they are here to help, please don’t hesitate to contact them whenever you need in-home respite care.
