If you’re in your 40s or early 50s, you might have teenage children or those who are off at college or just starting out in their new adult lives. Even if you don’t have kids or they are not at that age (they grew up quite a while ago), you understand about limited time. When you have numerous responsibilities to take care of, there’s only so much you can do each day.
Yet tens of millions of Americans take on another great responsibility, even when working a full-time job, raising children, and pursuing other important outlets: they become family caregivers.
Most of the time these people are looking after an aging parent. Sometimes, it might be a spouse or, in other cases, it might be an adult child with a disability or who suffered a major accident with significant injuries. Whatever the case, when you have a full-time career and become a family caregiver, you may feel overwhelmed.
In fact, you probably do feel overwhelmed. Most days, you can’t wait for it to end (the day, that is) so you can just relax, try to unwind, and grab a few hours of precious sleep before you have to wake up and do it all over again.
Most family caregivers never think about elder care options.
There are numerous elder care options available. However, the one most seniors would prefer is home care. Why would they prefer that? Because it allows them to stay where they are most comfortable: at home. This is known as aging in place and it’s what most people would prefer as opposed to institutional care.
So why don’t most family caregivers ever really think about elder care from an outside source? Some may feel this is their responsibility, something they have to do. Others see it as an act of love, which may mean if they even bring up the topic of elder care from outside sources, it would indicate to the senior and maybe other family members that they just don’t love them enough. That is completely baseless, but that’s how many people view their responsibilities. Others simply don’t know enough about it.
How can elder care help in these situations?
Most of these family caregivers ultimately find themselves in a precarious situation. They run out of time quickly, especially as the aging parent’s needs increase. They may start out relatively simple enough, just offering to help a couple of days a week, but in a few months, they may find themselves stopping by every day. A few months after that, they may be required to stop by in the morning before they head to work and then in the evening on the way home.
Professional elder care through a home care agency can supplement the support that a family caregiver offers. That family member doesn’t have to stop looking after their loved one; they would simply have some help to alleviate the pressure and stress from their lives.
A professional, experienced home care aide can assist with bathing, toileting, preparing meals, light housekeeping, and much more. They can also be there for the senior when the family caregiver can’t. This gives the family caregiver time to focus or refocus on their career, their children, their friends, their partner or spouse, and other important things.
If you are one of the estimated 44 million family caregivers in the United States (Forbes) and you are working full-time or pursuing your career, help is available. And that help can come in the form of an elder care provider.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care in Point Loma, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aaron Home Care. (619) 880-5522
A Trusted Home Care Agency Serving La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, San Diego, UTC, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Coronado, Bonita, Eastlake and the surrounding areas.
In 1999, Aaron was named Residential Program Manager of a group home for disabled adults in Arlington, Virgina. Here, he built a reputation for being compassionate with his clients and efficient in company operations. In the years that followed, Washington DC’s human services field went through unprecedented reform when the city was fined $11 million for the previously unchecked abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the very population it was supposed to protect. In 2005, Aaron was selected by a watchdog company to co-create and implement a monitoring system to safeguard and advocate for the system’s most vulnerable residents. This system is still in use today.
Aaron is now using his unique gifts and profound experience in the human service field to provide San Diego County Seniors with dependable, compassionate caregivers through Aaron Home Care.
He currently serves on the board of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council and is an active member of the Senior Advocate Network of San Diego.
Aaron Home Care is a member of the American Board of Home Care and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
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