Family Caregiver Respite Time
If your elder lives with you in your home, you can hire an in-home care agency to have a caregiver take over for a few hours, a day or a week. If your elder is in a facility, and you know the care is good, you can take some time away from your visiting schedule now and then. Play hooky. Go to the park or do what I did – read a good book. Pamper yourself by doing something for you.
In the end, while you may have a hard time believing this, you will become a better caregiver if you take care of yourself. A refreshed caregiver is going to be a more creative, patient caregiver. Your attitude and body language will tell your care receiver the story. When you are refreshed, you really are glad to see him or her. You really are happy to help.
What can you do differently than you did last year to elevate your caregiving? You can adjust your attitude to include decent self care. In the end everyone will benefit.
"You really do provide the "compassion" in COMPASSION SENIOR CARE. I'm sure I could not have coped with home hospice care without the help of your caregivers. They not only gave my loved one excellent care and companionship, but they also gladly handled so many practical things around the house so that I could focus on my work and still have quality time with my loved one."
Family in The Heights
Source: Author, columnist and speaker Carol Bradley Bursack wrote "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories" and is the moderator of the AgingCare.com
