5 Facts that Show Why Respite Care Is Essential

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Why Respite Care is Important in Winnipeg, MB

More than 2 million Canadians receive some type of formal home care, according to Statistics Canada. Also, roughly 8 million Canadians provide informal care for a senior loved one. If you’re one of these family caregivers, you may benefit from respite care. Let’s take a closer look at five reasons proving the importance of this type of care.

1. You Deserve a Break

Caring for a loved one can take a significant toll on your own mental health. In-home respite care gives you a chance to get relief from your duties for brief periods. These short breaks allow you to:
• Ease your stress and anxiety
• Take care of other responsibilities without guilt
• Restore a sense of balance in your life
• Enjoy more opportunities to socialize with friends and stay connected with other family members

2. Your Loved One Will Also Benefit

Caring for an older loved one can certainly be rewarding and mutually beneficial. Even so, it can also be challenging at times. If you’re overly stressed, your loved one may respond to your emotions and become more agitated, confused, combative, or anxious.
Respite care allows you to take a break when you need to while your loved one continues to receive high-quality care. When you come back rested and refreshed, you’ll be able to provide attentive and supportive care.
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 at-home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.

3. Your Own Health Matters

It’s not unusual for family caregivers to put their own health needs on the back burner. You may even find yourself skipping doctors’ appointments or ignoring aches and pains and other signs of a potentially serious health issue. With in-home respite care, you can arrange for temporary relief when you need to tend to your own health-related needs.
Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated senior 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.

4. Bad Habits Can Be Avoided

Regular respite care may also help you avoid unhealthy habits that could develop if you’re overly stressed. These not-so-healthy sources of stress relief may include smoking, overindulging in sugary, fatty, and other types of unhealthy foods, and drinking too much alcohol. Arranging for regular in-home respite care makes it easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle that may involve:

• Taking a fitness class
• Going for regular walks
• Cooking your own healthy meals

5. Your Loved One Can Stay at Home

If you’re juggling the needs of your own immediate family and the needs of your loved one, you may find yourself turning to other family members or senior daycare facilities for assistance. The potential problem with these options is that your loved one may end up being shuttled around from one home to another, or he or she may feel uncomfortable in a group daycare setting.
In-home respite care allows your loved one to receive the care he or she needs in the comfort of home, which can be especially beneficial if your loved one has reached a point where unfamiliar settings are confusing or stressful. What’s more, respite care can be provided on a schedule that’s right for you and your loved one. Plus, respite care is budget-friendly, since you’ll only pay for the care that’s needed.
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. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. To hire a compassionate, dedicated caregiver, call us at (204) 489-6000 today.

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