Life isn’t easy. It’s hard for everyone to balance the responsibility of a career, the needs of a family, and still have enough personal and social time to stay happy and satisfied. It’s something that everyone struggles with, but it’s even more difficult for people responsible for the safety and well-being of their family members.
According to the Washington Post, more than 40 percent of adults age 65+ require daily assistance, and at least 70 percent will need help at some point in their lives. That means that most adults will find themselves helping to care for a loved one at some point in their life.
The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. Finding a home caregiver to help take care of your loved ones can make an amazing difference in your quality of life, and the quality of your loved one’s life. An adult caregiver can change everything by providing the care, support, and treatment your loved one needs.
FINDING A CAREGIVER FOR YOUR NEEDS
The biggest misconception about caregiver services is that they’re only available for elderly services. In fact, caregivers, like the ones available at Sunrise Services Inc., can also help care for people with behavioral needs, developmental disabilities, and physical or mental challenges. Caregivers are specially trained to help all kinds of people, so the real question is: When is it time to consider hiring professional help?
Here are four signs that it is time to hire a home caregiver.
1. YOUR LOVED ONE HAS GROWING NEEDS
As your parent or loved one gets older, or their impairment gets worse, make sure to look out for warning signs that they might need extra help. These warning signs can include forgetfulness, a decline in home maintenance (such as excess clutter or laundry, expired food, and neglected messes), a decline in personal care, and depression. You might notice that your loved one starts exhibiting one or more of these warning signs, which means they might soon need extra assistance on a regular basis. For people with loved ones with other needs, you may notice that your list of tasks is steadily growing, and someday soon, you might have a list too long to handle on your own.
2. CARING IS A FULL-TIME JOB
One of the biggest struggles we hear about from our clients is that caring for their loved ones is a full-time job all on its own. The time commitment can be extreme and can cause issues in your professional and personal life, as more and more of your time is spent caring for your loved one. A professional caregiver can take over for you when you need to be doing other things, providing expert care, completing daily tasks, and improving their quality of life without taking up too much of your limited time.
3. YOU DON’T HAVE THE SPECIAL SKILLS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEEDS
For many in need of extra assistance, the care they require can go beyond a normal person’s skill set. Whether it’s medical treatment, emotional support, mental health treatment, or home care, sometimes these needs can be beyond what a person could reasonably be expected to know. Thankfully, adult caregivers, such as the ones available at Sunrise Services Inc., have received extensive training to learn how to handle all these needs and more. They can help you take care of these specialized tasks, so you can focus on providing your loved one with the love they need.
4. YOUR LOVED ONE IS CRAVING MORE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
Everyone needs social time, but unfortunately, as your loved one starts needing more and more assistance and becomes increasingly homebound, this social time can be greatly diminished. This can lead to depression and loneliness in your loved one. Having a home caregiver can give your loved one the chance to interact with someone outside their family, giving them the social time they crave. Depending on their needs, caregivers can sometimes even help your loved one go out and interact with their friends, and even make new ones by going to events in the local area.
If your loved one requires more assistance than you can provide on your own, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone struggles to balance all the responsibilities of everyday life, and it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. Acknowledging that you need the help of a home caregiver is the first step towards making your life and the life of your loved one better, so don’t be afraid to reach out. Contact a care giving service like Sunrise Services Inc. to find out how a caregiver can be a benefit to your situation.