7 Ways Respite Care Is Beneficial for Seniors

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Tips Respite Care Is Beneficial for Seniors in Winnipeg, MB

Your role as a family caregiver requires you to explore every possible source of support to help you prevent burnout. While you know respite care gives you a break, you might not have considered just how important it is for your senior loved one to receive care from someone else on occasion. These are just a few of the advantages your parent can enjoy when you make plans for respite care.

1. Alleviate Feelings of Guilt

You might feel a slight sense of guilt about leaving your loved one with someone else. However, it’s also quite possible that your loved one feels guilty about all the things you do to help him or her out. Arranging for respite care allows your loved one to know he or she isn’t a burden, since you can still manage your personal needs.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Winnipeg families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.

2. Reduce Tension in the Home

Even the happiest families know they must sometimes spend time away from each other. When you spend every hour of each day with your loved one, it’s more likely that tension will build up. Taking a brief break away from each other allows your loved one to enjoy a little space so negative feelings don’t fester.

3. Identify New Health Symptoms

Many health conditions involve subtle changes you might not detect when you’re around your loved one all the time. However, a respite caregiver sees your loved one less frequently, which means minor changes, such as slurred speech or a stiff gait, are more noticeable. Aging adults often benefit from having a caregiver point out symptoms that need to be checked out by their physician.
A trained professional caregiver can be an extremely valuable member of your caregiving team. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.

4. Learn New Strategies to Stay Independent

Most family caregivers are new to their roles. Although you may research ways to help your loved one, it’s likely there are many strategies for helping with daily activities you might not know yet. During respite care, aging adults are often presented with new options, such as using assistive devices that help them find better ways to manage their needs independently.

5. Enjoy a Refreshing Conversation

A senior who is mostly homebound often lacks enough social stimulation to feel fulfilled. A visit from a respite caregiver offers a brand-new opportunity to connect with someone else. With new topics for conversation, your loved one can strengthen his or her oral language and memory abilities.

6. Minimize Germ Exposure

When you’re sick, it’s best to have someone else step in and take care of your loved one. Respite care can help aging adults reduce the risk of falling ill, since you can minimize germ exposure by taking a break from your duties. Knowing when to delegate senior care to someone else can keep your parent healthier.

7. Discover New Mind-Stimulating Activities

As much as you may wish you could take your loved one to a movie or spend hours playing board games, the truth is you may have too much to do. Respite caregivers love taking seniors out on the town for an hour or two, or they can plan mentally stimulating activities to do in your loved one’s home. This way, your loved one benefits from keeping his or her mind engaged while you handle your other responsibilities.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated senior home care, Winnipeg, MB, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise. For compassionate, reliable in-home care, trust the experienced professionals from Home Care Assistance. Reach out to one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (204) 489-6000 to learn about the high quality of our in-home respite care services.

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