You’re hunkered over the kitchen sink scrubbing chicken off of a dinner plate when you hear your aging mother asking for help getting comfortable in the next room. You hold back a sigh and wonder when you last had a moment to yourself. As soon as the thought crosses your mind, you feel a pang of guilt. As the adult child of an aging parent, you know that every moment you have together is precious. At the same time, you can’t help but wonder if there’s a better way for your loved one to receive the care that they need. 

As of 2020, an estimated 53 million American adults are unprofessional caregivers for a family member. Among this population, stress and burnout run rampant. An estimated 40% of caregivers felt emotionally stressed and about 20% felt physically strained. If you are shouldering the responsibility of caring for an aging loved one alone, there is a better way. 

What is Respite Care?

Respite care is having a professional caregiver step in to take care of your aging loved one, providing you temporary relief as the primary caregiver and enabling you to take a much-needed break from the demands of caregiving. Whether you have something important that requires you to be away or you simply need some much-needed self-care, you can trust that your family member is safe. 

Benefits of Respite Care

Caregiver burnout can affect you mentally, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially, making it difficult to take care of both you and the person in your care. It’s common to feel irritable, exhausted, and like you don't have the resources you need to be well. Feeling more like a nurse than a family member can strain important relationships and make you feel a lack of control in your life. Respite care provides a window of time to re-energize yourself and prioritize your own physical and mental health needs. Below are a handful of the benefits respite care offers:

•    You can rely on the assistance of a highly trained professional caregiver who is aware of your aging loved one’s unique care needs.
•    Your aging loved one can remain in the comfort of their own home as they age while still receiving the help that they need to be safe.
•    You get to decide the frequency and type of respite care services based on what is best for your family.

Finding Respite Care 

You were never meant to handle this alone. Watching a parent age and no longer be able to perform activities of daily living that they once could is challenging enough. Seeking professional help is nothing to feel guilty about. It’s a lifeline that ensures your loved one is receiving the care that they need and that your time with them can be spent forming precious memories. 

At HomeSpark, we offer a wide range of non-medical, in-home care services to serve you and your family as you navigate caring for an aging loved one. Contact us today to learn more about our in-home respite care services.