{"id":12403,"date":"2017-08-16T07:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T12:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=12403"},"modified":"2017-09-19T12:04:05","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T17:04:05","slug":"5-benefits-of-using-respite-care-to-take-a-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2017\/08\/5-benefits-of-using-respite-care-to-take-a-break\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Benefits of Using Respite Care to Take a Break"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 Benefits of Using Respite Care to Take a Break\"5<\/a><\/h1>\n

You\u2019ve been balancing your job and your kids with your senior loved one\u2019s caregiving needs and you\u2019re just so tired. It\u2019s hard staying on top of everything all the time, but it\u2019s worse knowing that, unlike a typical paid full-time job, there are no paid vacation days in your future. This work is needed every day, without fail.<\/p>\n

Everybody needs a break. If you feel like you\u2019re trapped in the same cycle of caregiving work every day without a respite in sight, know that there is a way to take time off. Look into respite care.<\/p>\n

What is Respite Care?<\/h2>\n

Respite care<\/strong><\/a> is the term used to describe any type of temporary care that allows a family primary caregiver to take a break. There are a number of different types of respite care<\/strong><\/a> available that can provide level of care your loved one needs in your absence, so you can get that well needed break you both deserve and need.<\/p>\n

Why Tired Caregivers Need Respite Care<\/h2>\n

For some caregivers, the biggest obstacle to using respite care isn\u2019t a lack of available options, it\u2019s your own brain. If the idea of letting go of some of your responsibilities for a few days to let someone else take them on makes you feel guilty \u2013 like you\u2019re failing your loved one (or yourself) \u2013 that type of thinking may be doing actual harm to you.<\/p>\n

Taking a break with the help of respite care isn\u2019t selfish. It provides significant benefits both to you and your loved one. Here are five compelling reasons for you to go ahead and take that break.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The stress you\u2019re feeling now is bad for your health.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Nobody likes being stressed out, but it\u2019s not just an unpleasant feeling we have to deal with. Stress causes a number of serious health problems<\/strong><\/a>. If you\u2019re too stressed out for too long, it can contribute to a weakened immune system as you age and an increased risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n

    In The Caregiving Trap<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, <\/em><\/strong>Pamela Wilson describes a familiar cycle she sees of people working themselves ragged and experiencing high levels of stress to take care of their aging parents, only to bring on health problems sooner for themselves and need a primary caregiver earlier in life than they may have otherwise.<\/p>\n

    You see, all that stress you\u2019re carrying around is not just about you. Your loved ones all want you around and healthy for longer, which makes that break you\u2019ve been denying yourself all the more important for you take.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. You\u2019ll provide better care once you\u2019ve had a break.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      When work just seems to build day after day, it gets harder and harder to handle it with the same level of focus and competence. That\u2019s normal. When you\u2019re feeling tired and overwhelmed, tasks that should be simple become far more difficult.<\/p>\n

      That\u2019s why workplaces put a cap on the number of hours employees work in a day and week. No matter the type of work you do, your ability to do it suffers when you\u2019re overworked. That\u2019s no less the case when the type of work you do is caregiving than if you were working in an office. To continue to effectively provide the loving care you do each day for the long term, you\u2019ve got to work some breaks in, or you\u2019ll start to find little tasks and details slipping.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. It can defuse building tensions.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        It might not be something you admit to other people, but when so much of your life becomes wrapped up in providing care for a loved one, it\u2019s hard to keep feelings of frustration and resentment towards them at bay.<\/p>\n

        Do you have moments of getting mad at your loved one \u2013 even when they haven\u2019t done anything wrong? Or days where the frustration of all you have to do just boils to the surface and you have a hard time continuing to do it all with the grace you feel like you\u2019re supposed<\/em> to have?<\/p>\n

        Don\u2019t let that just keep building. It\u2019s bad for both of you. A few days away from each other can wipe the slate clean of that building tension and let you get back to a healthier version of your relationship with your loved one.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. You get the chance to remember what\u2019s valuable about your relationship.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          When your loved one becomes a job, it can be hard some days to remember that they\u2019re also your loved one. You can forget \u2013 if only briefly – how meaningful and valuable their company is to you. Instead of spending quality time together, it becomes all about the (exhausting) tasks you have to do to take care of them.<\/p>\n

          But they are<\/em> your loved one. And their company is<\/em> valuable to you. A few days away from the distraction of all the caregiving work you take on can help you remember what you love about the person you care for, so you come back to them ready to re-connect.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. You can get the rest you really need. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            You need time to rest and relax. Everyone does. Not just for your health, not just for the sake of your relationship with your loved one, also just for you. Using respite care to take a break isn\u2019t selfish, but that\u2019s not to say that there\u2019s anything wrong with wanting to do it for yourself as much as for all these other reasons. It\u2019s ok to want a few days for yourself.<\/p>\n

            Don\u2019t feel guilty for wanting a break.<\/h2>\n

            The most important takeaway from this post is that any shame you may feel at considering respite care should be squashed. Giving yourself a break isn\u2019t just good for you, it\u2019s good for everyone involved. But importantly, it\u2019s also<\/em> good for you and you deserve it.<\/p>\n

            Find Respite Care<\/h2>\n

            If you want to learn more about the senior care options in your area that may offer respite care, you can find details and reviews by searching on Senior Advisor. <\/a><\/strong>A little bit of research and planning and that vacation you\u2019ve been dreaming of will be within your reach.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            5 Benefits of Using Respite Care to Take a Break You\u2019ve been balancing your job and your kids with your senior loved one\u2019s caregiving needs and you\u2019re just so tired. It\u2019s hard staying on top of everything all the time, but it\u2019s worse knowing that, unlike a typical paid full-time job, there are no paid vacation days in your future. 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