If your aging loved one needs help with activities of daily living or has recently been diagnosed with an age-related condition, you may be considering taking on his or her care yourself. This admirable act can be extremely rewarding, but there are also many challenges associated with caring for an aging parent, many of which develop over time and are unforeseeable. The following are just a few considerations adult children should take into account prior to taking on the role of caregiver for a loved one. Knowing these challenges can ensure your loved one’s safety and quality of life as well as your own health.
Realistic Expectations
Family caregivers often choose to provide care for their parents out of love and devotion. However, these two qualities alone aren’t enough to ensure the health and safety of a senior at home. It’s important for family caregivers to be realistic about the skills they have so they can make sure they can meet their loved ones’ needs. In many cases, a senior who requires some level of caregiving now will require long-term care at some point. It’s important not to let emotions guide your decision-making.
Caring for an aging adult without help can be overwhelming. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality Las Vegas home care, Assisting Hands Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
Unexpected Emotions
When you’re the caregiver, your own schedule becomes tied to the person you’re taking care of. You schedule your own day around your loved one’s medications, appointments, and activities. Despite how much you love the person you’re taking care of, you could find yourself becoming resentful and long for more time for yourself.
Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Las Vegas families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation.
Family Dynamics
When providing around-the-clock care, everything becomes secondary to the person being taken care of, and that can be very difficult to handle. You’re also now the one in charge, and that may not feel natural. Up to this point in your life, your parent has looked out for you, and now that dynamic has changed. This can lead to your parent feeling inadequate and you feeling like you have to walk on eggshells.
Financial Cost
Being the primary caregiver for a loved one can also take a financial toll. It’s difficult to juggle a full-time job when also acting as a caregiver for another person. If your loved one needs care, consider the financial implications of your not being able to work outside the home in addition to the costs for your loved one’s food, medical expenses, and the possible need for emergency care. Once you’ve carefully examined how caregiving will affect your day-to-day life, learn more about your options for support. From friends and family to professional caregiving services, there are countless resources to help you along this journey.
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide senior home care. Las Vegas families can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. Call us at 702-919-0231 to learn more about our flexible and customizable home care Las Vegas plans.
