Surprising Benefits of Being a Caregiver

At Visiting Angels, we are caregivers. That’s what we do, and it’s our passion. If we are not the actual caregiver for your senior loved one, we are behind the scenes planning how we can meet their in-home care needs. We know there are many family-member caregivers out there too, spinning several plates in the air, including doctors’ appointments, bill payments, medication management, and everything in-between. The benefits we feel from caregiving are endless, but we’ll narrow down the list to our top 5.

A Sense of Purpose

When we look past all of the “noise” in life, there is only one reason we are here, and that is to take care of each other. Caregivers feel tremendous satisfaction knowing that with their intervention, they improved another person’s quality of life. Many of us wake up with the meaningful purpose of ensuring another person’s health and well-being.

Giving Back

Caregiving for a family member is the ultimate way to give back to someone that has previously cared for us. Many of us are caregiving for our parents, the people who raised and nurtured us when we needed it most. As roles slowly reverse, the adult child can now show appreciation and provide peace of mind and a sense of security for their senior parents.

A Reminder About What’s Important

We are all guilty of it. We are swept up in the tsunami of daily life demands and forget what’s really important. Most often, an unexpected, significant event serves as a shocking reminder about what we can lose and how quickly. Caregiving provides a reality check daily, not just when there is a tragedy. The people we care for remind us of our blessings. We don’t have to think about breathing, while they may have to adjust their oxygen tank. We shower independently, while they may need a shower seat and a person to help them. When we pause for just a moment while caregiving, the reminders about what’s important are ever-present, followed by gratitude for our good health that allows us to care for others.

Skill-Building

Caregiving helps us learn how to flex our muscles in unexpected ways. We learn stronger communication skills when interacting with both the senior and the family, especially if the senior has dementia. Discussions among the caregiver, senior, and family can be sensitive, so polished communication skills are a must. Plus, strong communication skills easily transfer to other realms in life, such as work and other endeavors. Caregiving provides lessons in patience, compassion, and empathy for those different than us. Also, experiences in caregiving teach us strategies that can help other families or friends that may be struggling.

The Inside Scoop

At one time or another, we have all joked about wishing we had a crystal ball to see into the future. When you provide care for a senior, it’s the next best thing. Those of us with the highest level of humility and the most acute listening skills will be smarter than our peers because our seniors tell us what they already know. We learn essential life lessons from our seniors because they have been there, and with any luck, we don’t repeat the same mistakes.

If you are a person who would like to reap the many benefits of being a caregiver with Visiting Angels, click here to learn more about how you can become a member of our team. If you are caregiving for a family member and need some respite, Visiting Angels Conway can help. As the premier in-home senior care company servicing Conway, AR, and surrounding areas, we can send reinforcements to give you a well-deserved break. Call us at 501-329-2100 or contact us online to learn more about our Respite Care program.