Six Reasons to Hire a Professional Home Care Aide from Visiting Angels Annapolis

Here are six reasons why families in Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Millersville, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold, Severna Park, and surrounding areas in Maryland hire home care aides from Visiting Angels

You’re grateful for everything your parents have done for you over the years, and you’re happy to return the favor by caring for them as they age and start to have difficulties with everyday tasks. Although, caring for an aging parent is entirely different from parenting children. Keep this in mind when your parents need support.

Visiting Angels Annapolis can help you avoid caregiver burnout and ensure your loved one gets the care and support they need. Our care providers can assist your loved one with daily activities, provide engaging companionship and keep your family updated on your loved one’s well-being. Professional care from Visiting Angels is a great resource for adult children who may not fully be ready for the responsibility that comes with being a family caregiver.

Here are six reasons to hire a professional home care aide:

There’s a Steep Learning Curve

Family members usually take on the caregiving role due to an unexpected health event. Typically, they’re unprepared for the role of primary caregiver because the role is multi-faceted and demanding.

Consider the team of people caring for Dad: the nurse who administers his medications and the doctor who prescribes them. There’s also the janitor who cleans the floors, the server who brings his meals and the housekeeper who changes his soiled sheets. Will you truly be ready to meet these needs?

It’s unrealistic for one person to assume these responsibilities alone. But with Visiting Angels Annapolis, you don’t have to do it alone. Our home care aides can take over caregiving responsibilities when you need time to yourself. We offer a comprehensive selection of services – from meal preparation to help with light housekeeping – that can be tailored to your loved one’s specific needs.

You Don’t Have Enough Room in Your Schedule

Some seniors require around-the-clock care and can be extremely difficult to manage, especially if you have a job and family. With in-home senior care from Visiting Angels Annapolis, you know there will always be someone there to provide the care your loved one needs. Our home care aides are available for anywhere from a couple hours a day to 24/7.

You’re Uncomfortable with Role Reversal

Even when providing care, keep in mind that your parent is still your parent. No matter how dependent Mom becomes as her dementia progresses, it’s critical to maintain your mother-daughter relationship. Most aging parents don’t want to be a burden. They wish their children didn’t have to help them with personal hygiene, banking or other tasks. Inverting the child-parent dynamic may not be healthy for your relationship. When you treat your parents like children, they may push back to protect their pride, blocking your caregiving efforts.

With Visiting Angels Annapolis as your partner in senior care, you won’t have to worry about caring for your loved one constantly and your loved one won’t feel like they’re being treated like your child. Our home care aides are selected to join our team because they have both the experience and character needed to provide exceptional care for seniors. While assisting your loved one with everyday activities, we will always treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve.

You Don’t Have Additional Help

Senior Care is mostly unpredictable and requires a team approach. What if Dad falls while you’re at work? Who will stop Mom from wandering?

Many adult children have their own families. What happens when situations arise in your immediate household requiring time away? You may have to travel for work or have an unexpected illness.

Even if you’re able to manage daily responsibilities, you need a backup plan. Establishing a safety net early on is vital. At Visiting Angels Annapolis, we can provide the backup support you need so you can focus on your own family while ensuring your loved one is safe and comfortable.

Family Dynamics Become Difficult

When family members disagree about caregiving decisions for a loved one, relationships can be strained. You think Dad needs an escort to medical appointments, but your brother may disagree. Dad’s safety may be at stake. Who gets to make the final decision?

You may feel responsible because you’re the oldest sibling or you live closest to your loved one. It may also start to feel like your siblings aren’t doing their fair share. Relationships can be tense before caregiving even starts. Add stepparents, in-laws and blended families to the mix, and the question of who’s going to care for Mom can be volatile. Are you ready for the conflict?

At Visiting Angels Annapolis, we aim to give families peace of mind with regular updates. Our home care aides will discuss your loved one’s well-being and can offer suggestions if we feel they may benefit from more comprehensive care or a schedule adjustment. By keeping you in the loop, your family can be better prepared to make a unified decision regarding your loved one’s care.

You Risk Caregiver Burnout

Burnout can easily set in when you’re a family caregiver. Your kids and spouse miss you; you’ve sacrificed family dinners, school events and date nights. You can’t keep up with your household chores and Mom’s chores too. You’re doing twice the work, and it’s taking its toll. You haven’t slept through the night since Mom’s stroke, and you’re making mistakes on the job.

Caregiver burnout can be dangerous for both you and your loved one. Fortunately, our home care aides can provide temporary respite care so you can take a well-deserved break.

To learn how home care aides from Visiting Angels Annapolis can help your loved one, call our Millersville, MD office at 410-505-5141 and schedule an in-home consultation.