"In-spite Of" Care
“In-spite Of” Care
When you are a caregiver of a family member, taking time for yourself can make you feel guilty. Even the thought of having someone else taking care of your loved one for a brief time, a day, or even a weekend can bring out feelings of guilt.
Some of these feelings are because you think that no one else could give the same care that you do. Or, your family member will be unhappy if someone else is doing the caregiving. This is why you need to have respite care in spite of the reasons you think you shouldn't.
In-spite of Care
Respite care is allowing yourself to have time away “in-spite of” the roadblocks you or your loved one put up. You feel guilty for wanting to get away and recharge yourself. Even though it’s perfectly normal for you to want a break from your caregiving duties, you may not think so.
Caregiver stress is a genuine side effect of being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You could be feeling resentful at the chaos that caregiving has brought into your life. You may feel guilty because you wish you had your old life back instead of the reality that it is now. You might feel as if you have no control over your life, but the person you're caregiving for does have all the power.
It would be best if you had respite care in spite of the objections of your family member. You need to take better care of yourself, so you are mentally, physically, and emotionally equipped to continue the caregiving aspect of your life. Remember, you have every right to deserve a life too!
Other Reasons for Respite Care
There are other important reasons to take a break. Your immune system will be boosted because you've been able to destress, eat some decent meals, and get a good night's sleep. You will return to your duties with a fresh attitude, outlook, and your spirits will be lifted. You'll have a new perspective on the situation because you've had a chance to step back and reassess.
There are benefits for your family member as well. Your loved one will have the chance to develop a new relationship with a greater variety of people. They will still have all their needs met without feeling neglected. Believe it or not, your family member can also benefit mentally, emotionally, and physically from taking a break from you.
Discussing Respite Care with Your Family Member
Trying to take time off in spite of the objections of your family member can be tricky. You may want to bring the subject up in passing casually and then let it go without going into detail. After a week or so, bring the topic up again and allow the conversation to progress over several smaller conversations.
Mention the benefits of respite care for your loved one. Ask your loved one about the concerns they have about respite care in the home. Then discuss those fears with the goal in mind to set their mind at ease. Let them know that you’ll be happy to hear all about their respite care experience as well as looking forward to sharing your experiences with them.
You need to make your family member realize that to take the proper care of them, you need to take appropriate care of yourself. Caregiver burnout is a serious matter, and respite care is a short time investment for long-term better-quality caregiving.
We here at Right at Home have the qualified caregivers for Respite Care. Call us today so you can take the break you much deserve.