Family Caregiver Overload - When to Call an Agency for Help
One thing that most seniors will tell you, no matter what stage of aging, is that they prefer to spend the rest of their days at the home they have worked all their lives for. They can’t imagine a life in an efficiency apartment or a senior living facility, and they will be counting on you to help them stay in their spaces, whether they are able to express that completely or not. Then it becomes the work of the children or other family members to ensure that that wish is made good, despite what may happen in the real world. Often, after these family members do all they can and more, they will call Visiting Angels of Hurst at (817) 952-3223 when they have few choices and need help right away. Hopefully those family members searching for help will have a chance to read this article and visit the Visiting Angels website before they become overwhelmed!
Is It Time to Seek Out More Help?
Most families and caregivers find that if they are wondering if it’s time to seek out more help, it’s probably past time for the needed support of a home care companion. Family caregivers face many obstacles and should be reminded of the old adage for those in an airplane emergency: “You must have your oxygen mask on before you can help anyone else.” They can become isolated from work, friends, and their own family without even realizing it because the focus is so intent on taking care of the senior in need.
Sometimes, the needs of your loved one start increasing in small ways until the care has overtaken your day. You stop by Mom’s in the morning after dropping the kids at school to make sure that she takes her medication and has something to eat or at least a protein shake, then it’s off to the pharmacy to get a new ointment before heading to your full-time job. Lunch is packed in your bag as you make the trek back over to Mom’s to give her some lunch and help her put on the ointment. Now you’re back at work, as the kids do their afternoon activities; soon it’s time to pick them up, head home to make dinner for the family, then take part of the fresh, hot meal over to Mom’s to make sure she has her evening meal, medications, and a shower before bed. Sounds exhausting, right? And you’ve been doing more and more, it seems like Mom has a new need crop up every day. Of course, even with all of this care, there’s guilt about not being able to do everything easily.
Is Home Care a Good Solution for Your Family?
Consider these factors to determine if home care could help your parents safely age in place:
Personal appearance and household cleanliness changes can indicate a shift in physical or mental status. Even subtle behavioral changes may imply that an elder is no longer willing or able to complete familiar tasks without support. Maybe you’ve noticed that Dad’s unopened mail is piling up or that Grandma, once meticulous about her appearance, is wearing dirty clothes and not doing her hair. Other signs include inadequate fresh food in the house, evidence of weight loss, forgetting to take medications, and unexplained bruising that often points to changes in mobility.
New or worsening health issues often indicate that a senior requires a full medical workup and could benefit from increased assistance at home. A doctor can assign a home health care provider who can help an aging loved one monitor their vital signs, manage chronic medical conditions, navigate their complex medication regimen, and therapy providers to help them participate in exercises that improve independence and care for wounds.
If you are helping your loved one with grocery shopping, housekeeping, transportation to appointments or managing their medications, be honest about how this added responsibility affects you, your family, and your schedule. Caregiving is emotionally demanding and physically exhausting. It is important for family caregivers to recognize the signs of burnout and acknowledge when they need to share the workload.
When the level of care a loved one requires becomes more than you can handle, or your level of involvement negatively impacts your work, relationships, finances, and health, then it is time to look into respite care. Hiring a caregiver for in-home help may be the best solution for everyone involved since it provides both you and your loved one with the support you need in a familiar environment.
Visiting Angels Can Help
If you’ve noticed the red flags above in your loved one and/or yourself, the time to discuss in-home care is sooner rather than later. Do not wait until a crisis occurs. Call the experts at Visiting Angels of Hurst at (817) 952-3223 to schedule a free consultation today!