Around 3 in 5 people will become the family caregiver at some point in their lives. Providing home care for your relative is a rewarding role, however it usually unplanned meaning you might find yourself having to drop everything to look after your family member. Being a caregiver is challenging both physically and mentally - you might find yourself in one of these scenarios:
Having to balance and separate your life between being a caregiver, and being present with your own family
Finding it hard to be a caregiver, and have an at home career
Physically tired after caring for someone for long periods of time
Emotionally unsettled having to switch roles with your parent
Navigating aggressive or confusing behaviour from a relative with a condition such as dementia
Suppressing negative feelings about the situation and not being able to talk about them
All of the above can become too much for one person to handle and you might find yourself burnt out. Burnout is a condition during which your body and mind are completely exhausted, during which you could lose focus, start to forget things, become clumsy, stop caring and paying attention - this is dangerous to both you and the person you are caring for. Here are some ways you can prevent burnout as a family caregiver:
Make time for yourself - have a long relaxing bath, enjoy a hobby, read that book you've been meaning to read for months
Go for a coffee with your friend and talk about your feelings and worries
Keep healthy - look after your diet and make time to exercise, go for a walk in fresh air
Look at respite care as an option
Respite Live in Care is when a Live-in Carer comes to live with your loved on in their own home, and provides round-the-clock 24/7 care so you can have a break. Respite care can be arranged for a week or two (or longer if you need to!). You can arrange respite care in 24-48 hours with Access Care. During this time you don't have to worry about your relative and can enjoy a guilt free holiday with your family, or simply rest at home to recharge your batteries.
In some cases, people realise that being the primary caregiver for their family member is too much, and they arrange Live-in Care on a longer basis. This allows them to focus on their own family, their careers, and their own health. There is nothing wrong with admitting you need a helping hand, and you should do this guilt free - Living in Carers become trusted companions and friends to your relative.
If you would like to talk to us about respite live-in care, please call us on 01264 319 399, or email hello@access-care.co.uk