Respite care is one of the biggest components of a caregiver’s self-care plan, but it’s also one of the most often overlooked components. Whether you’re feeling guilty or afraid that your senior might need you, you need to start getting used to taking respite time.
Examine What You Need
Every caregiver has different needs, especially when it comes to respite time. You might need specific dates and times covered so that you can go to your own appointments. You might be more flexible because you’re not sure what you’re going to do with that time just yet. Regardless, you need to have an understanding of what you need and expect from respite so that you and your senior can plan accordingly.
Talk to Your Loved One
Now that you’re getting serious about taking respite time, you need to talk with your elderly family member about her needs. She may want to have a family member staying with her or she might be very happy to meet new people as elderly care providers take over for you. Understanding what she expects and wants can help you to make a more solid plan.
Investigate Your Options
The key to successful respite time is having a plan that will work for everyone involved. You might have family members who are happy to step in and spend time with your aging adult. You’ll need to make sure that you’ve got a list of people, including elderly care providers, on whom you can call when you’re scheduling your respite time. Remember that family members may not be available every time that you need them, so having a backup plan is an excellent idea.
Schedule it and Stick with It
If you wait until the perfect time to take respite, you’re going to be waiting for quite a while, unfortunately. There’s no such thing as the perfect time to take a break from caregiving. You need to schedule that into your calendar and then stick with the appointment you’re making with yourself. Give yourself plenty of opportunities to practice keeping your respite arrangements until you get used to it.
Having a plan for your own respite care is crucial to being able to actually utilize respite. If the idea of taking time away makes you feel guilty, explore why that is and then work to resolve those feelings of guilt. You can’t be the caregiver that you need to be if you’re not also taking care of yourself.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Elderly Care in Springfield, VA, please contact the caring staff at Access Home Care Inc. Proudly Serving Northern Virginia and Surroundings for over 12 years.
Call Us: (703) 765-9350
“My desire to enter into nursing started when one of my older sisters died of kidney disease due to lack of care. At age 15, I decided to enter into nursing so that I could provide quality care to patients.Upon arrival in United States at 21 years of age, I enrolled in T.C Willliams School of Practical Nursing while working as a nursing assistant at a nursing home. I also worked as a part-time home health aide to take of the elderly. After completion of my practical nurse education, I worked in geriatric psychiatry unit at Dominion Hospital and Arlington Correctional facility mental health unit.
I completed Marymount University in 2001 and entered into Home Care as a field case manager.
I held that position for 2 years and as an Administrator, and for another 2 years until Access Home Care was found in 2004."
Today, Access Home Care has over 300 employees and 286 clients.
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