Caregiver in Bellville OH
Family caregivers benefit greatly by taking a respite from caregiving duties. The best way to do this is to get assistance from a professional that specializes in providing in-home care and senior care. These qualified professionals are best found by working with a reputable in-home care placement agency.
The ALS Association points out the importance of family caregivers having some time off from caregiving duties. It is important to take care of oneself to be able to better take care of another person. Everyone needs at least one day off per week to rest. This is the same for paid or unpaid caregivers.
Caregiving Burnout
Caregiving is difficult and the hours are long. Without proper respite, caregivers suffer from burnout. Many times the caregivers do not even notice that they are so worn out. It is important to recognize the symptoms of burnout, which include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty with Relaxing
- Exhaustion
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability
- Problems Sleeping
- Reduced Appetite
- Trouble with Concentration
All of these problems may be avoided by simply using the services of a professional in-home caregiver to provide part-time care and allow time off for family caregivers. Respite is good for both the caregivers and the person being cared for, because without having respite leads to resentment and even the caregiver may become ill themselves.
Balanced Caregiving is Good for Health
Care2 reports on a study done by John Hopkins that found the caregivers who had a balanced approach to their caregiving efforts, while taking care of a beloved elderly person, had an 18% decreased risk of dying in comparison to others that were not caregivers.
The John Hopkins study looked at over three thousand caregivers to make this determination. This new research contradicts other studies that show a family caregiver has increased mortality rates. The key difference is the level of stress felt by the family caregiver in providing help. Those who provided caregiving round-the-clock with no time off did not get the benefits that the John Hopkins study reported.
Many family caregivers feel increased self-esteem, especially when getting recognition for their efforts, wanting to help the elderly, and receiving gratitude from those they help. The caregivers who had the most difficulties where the children taking care of a parent, who felt they were forced to do this, and did not really enjoy being with their parent.
Stressful Caregiving is Bad for Health
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that stressed spouses who were caregivers had a 63% higher chance of mortality, due to the stress and the fact that the caregivers neglected to also take good care of themselves.
The key differences in the research done by John Hopkins and the study reported in JAMA are the stress levels experienced by the caregivers. It is clear that respite is a critical factor for reducing stress levels. Using a professional in-home care specialist from a qualified in-home care agency is the best solution to avoid caregiving burnout.
If you are considering hiring caregiver services near Bellville, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Ashland, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Loudonville, Mt. Gilead, Shelby, Wooster and the surrounding areas.
Source
Family Caregiving – Why Respite?
http://www.alsa.org/als-care/resources/publications-videos/factsheets/fyi-respite.html?referrer=http://time.com/money/3867432/caregivers-aging-parents-technology/
Is Caregiving Good or Bad for Your Health?
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/is-caregiving-good-or-bad-for-your-health.html
Caregiving as a Risk Factor for Mortality
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=192209
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