Family caregivers face a lot of challenges while they take care of the seniors they love. There are physical and emotional demands that may make them feel as if they’re ignoring their own needs at times. Finding the right balance is so important and it’s much easier with the help of companion care at home, especially when seniors simply need someone to talk to.
Reducing Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout is a massive problem for families of aging adults. When family caregivers don’t have a chance to step back and take time for themselves, the challenges they manage just become bigger and bigger. Companion care at home ensures that there’s someone spending time with their family member so that family caregivers can feel safer spending time on other needs.
Offering Respite Time for Self-care
Respite time ensures that family caregivers can run errands, go to their own doctors, or simply take some time to relax. This time can range from an hour or two to an entire day, depending on the family’s needs. In the past it might not have felt difficult to leave to take care of those needs, but as seniors age, it can feel like less of a good idea. Family caregivers don’t have to feel guilty that they’re not there because they know elder care providers are right there with their senior family members.
Reducing Stress Around Daily Routines
Even if seniors don’t need a lot of hands-on help, there are routines that family caregivers adopt to keep everything moving according to schedule. But these same routines can be stressful, particularly if family caregivers find themselves needing to focus more directly on their senior’s needs instead of taking care of specific tasks. Companion caregivers can spend time with seniors, letting family caregivers take care of other tasks.
Offering Emotional Support
Sometimes seniors need someone to talk to that isn’t a family member. Most individuals have someone they can talk to about simple things like favorite books or other topics, fulfilling a healthy need. Companion care at home can be there for seniors in that way, engaging them in conversations and introducing new topics. Companion caregivers don’t replace family caregivers or other family members, but they do offer emotional support.
Promoting Healthier Relationships
Reducing stress and resolving some of the issues that arise with caregiving does so much to help families and aging adults strengthen their relationships. The demands of caregiving can sometimes affect the deep emotional bonds, leading to misunderstandings or frustration. Companion care at home helps to give everyone a bit of space when they need it without leaving seniors completely on their own. This can offer a bit of a perspective shift, letting family members calm down and remember why they’re helping out.
Companion care at home is a vital form of emotional support for both seniors and family caregivers. Reducing stress and allowing family caregivers to feel safe about taking care of other needs is a special type of need that companion caregivers can help fulfill.
If you or an aging loved one are considering companion care at home in Needham, MA, please contact the caring staff at PlatinumCare + today. Call (617) 237-0867.
PlatinumCare + was born out of the desire and passion to provide the very best home health care possible in Brookline, Dover, Newton, Needham, Watertown, Weston, Cambridge, Lincoln, Sudbury, Belmont, Boston MA, and surrounding areas.
All with decades of experience, Tim in IT Operations, Support, and Management, Brenda in Client Relations, Healthcare Services & Sales Management, and Anne in Healthcare as a Nurse Practitioner combined their skills to form what is now PlatinumCare +.
As immigrants to the US, all came from backgrounds where Healthcare for aging parents was a responsibility of the immediate family and the entire community. Aging, sick, or terminal community members were cared for physically, emotionally, and financially by family, friends, including strangers! This community approach, Healthcare with a difference, delivered with the utmost love, care, sacrifice, and passion, forms the basis of how PlatinumCare + grounds itself.
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