Why Do Families in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties Hire Professional Home Care Providers from Visiting Angels?

Here are six reasons why family caregivers in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Carmel, Aptos, Santa Cruz, Marina and nearby cities in California hire home care providers 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. However, keep in mind that caring for an aging parent is entirely different from parenting children. Many adult children are often unprepared for the responsibility that comes with assisting an elderly loved one and it can easily start to take its toll.

Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. Visiting Angels Central Coast can help. Rest assured that our caregivers have the experience and compassion needed to support your loved one so you can step back from caregiving responsibilities and focus on other priorities in your life, as well as spend quality time with your loved one without worrying about providing care for them.

Here are six reasons to hire our professional home care providers:

Role Reversal Doesn’t Work

When providing senior care, you should 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.

When you treat your parents like children, they may push back to protect their pride, blocking your caregiving efforts. Most aging parents don’t want their children to help them with personal hygiene, banking or other tasks. Inverting the child-parent dynamic may not be healthy for your relationship.

When you hire a professional home care provider from Visiting Angels Central Coast, you can continue to make lasting memories with your aging parent without having to stress out over their well-being. Not only do we assist seniors with everyday tasks, but we also form strong bonds with our care recipients, provide meaningful companionship and treat our clients with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Senior Care Has a Steep Learning Curve

Family members usually take on the caregiving role due to an unexpected health event. Typically, they’re unprepared to become primary caregivers 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.

When you choose Visiting Angels Central Coast, you’re choosing an agency that carefully considers experience and character when hiring home care providers. We only hire caregivers that we would trust to care for our aging parents. That way, we can ensure that we’re able to provide the comprehensive and personalized care that families in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties have come to expect from us.

You Don’t Have Room in Your Schedule

Some aging parents require around-the-clock care. This level of care is extremely difficult to manage, especially if you have a job and family.

At Visiting Angels Central Coast, our professional home care providers are knowledgeable, compassionate and trained to meet your specific care needs. We can provide care for a couple hours a day, a few days a week, overnight, on the weekends and during the holidays. We are also available to provide 24-hour care.

Family Dynamics Become Difficult

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

You may feel responsible for caring for Mom or Dad because you’re the oldest sibling. It may start to feel like the rest of your family isn’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 Central Coast, our home care providers keep in regular contact with families. We can give you updates on your loved one’s well-being and offer recommendations if we believe they could benefit from an adjustment to their care plan. That way, you always know how your loved one is doing and can coordinate with your family if circumstances change.

You Lack Backup Support

Senior care is often 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 while caring for your loved one, you need a backup plan. Establishing a safety net early on is vital. At Visiting Angels Central Coast, our home care providers can offer backup support so you can focus on your family or career while ensuring your loved one has the support they need.

You’re Starting to Burn Out

Caregiver burnout can easily set in. 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.

Burnout can be dangerous for both you and your loved one. Fortunately, Visiting Angels Central Coast can provide temporary respite care so you can take a well-deserved break.

If you’d like to learn how our home care providers can help your loved one while giving you peace of mind, call Visiting Angels Central Coast at 831-430-0616 to schedule a free in-home consultation.