An important, sometimes overlooked service provided by our homemaker and companion services agency is caregiver respite. Just how important is respite care? Far more than you may imagine. In fact, research indicates for those who are caregivers, hiring a qualified home companion care agency like ours (or a home health agency if your loved one needs daily, hands-on medical care) is not a luxury you can afford to go without, but a necessity.
As experts point out no one can regularly, day-after-day expend considerable time and energy to giving a loved one the care he or she deserves, without a temporary "break" from this ongoing, demanding routine. At some point, burnout is almost certain if you try to maintain this lifestyle without a reprieve. And, this is exactly what respite care provides - a short, but necessary means of relief for primary caregivers continuously faced with the demands of caring for someone with special needs. Through respite care, the caregiver has the opportunity to relax, recharge and remember that there is more to life than caregiving 24/7. Respite care is about caregiving for you so you can continue to provide your loved one with the best possible care so they may experience the highest quality of life on a daily basis.
Several years ago, the National Family Caregivers Association conducted a Caregiver Member Survey. Data from the survey indicated that while caregivers found an "inner strength" which helped them greatly in caregiving that they never realized they had, a majority of those in the study reported suffering from sleep deprivation and/or depression. Perhaps an even more startling statistic, the Journal of American Medical Association reported from another study that in the case of elderly caregivers, those who were stressed proved to have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-stressed caregivers.
Furthermore, medical experts say that even if you as a caregiver do not manifest a serious physical or mental condition through the stresses common with caregiving, you still are very likely to be in a depressed state. That's because caregivers are often saddened by the loss of their previous lifestyle. They miss the things they can no longer do and enjoy, as they previously did for so many years.
The Good News: Respite Helps
According to data by the National Respite Coalition, respite improves family functioning, enhances satisfaction with life, improves the capacity to cope with stress, and provides more positive attitudes toward a disabled family member. (Cohen and Warren, 1985). In a national survey conducted in 1989 of families of a child with a disability, 74% reported that respite care caused a significant difference in their ability to provide care at home. Furthermore, 35% of the respite users stated that without respite services they would have considered out of the home placement for their family member (Knoll, James, Human Services Research Institute, 1989).
It probably goes without saying that the respite care of choice is someone who is qualified to come into a home, making it possible for the caregiver to leave for a few hours on a regular basis, or for a few days, to truly "getaway" from the stresses of around-the-clock caregiving. This has proven to be the least costly and most convenient form of respite care. Equally important, it provides the opportunity for caregivers to receive one of the essential components to good caregiving -- a temporary break from their responsibilities that is by no means a luxury, but a true necessity to be their best as a caregiver.
Erin Gregson
Director of Operations TLC Companion Care LLC
tlccompanion.com tlccompanion.com
TLC Companion Care provides personalized in-home companionship and lifestyle assistance in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. So many times older adults or those with disabilities do not need to leave their home for an institutional setting. They might just need help with chores around the house or with transportation needs. A few services we provide are: meal planning and preparation, errand running, transportation needs, medication reminders, organization, light housekeeping, and of course we can also just sit and talk with you and take you on fun outings of your choice. We will work closely with you to find you or your loved one the caregiver that he/she will enjoy spending time with and will consider like a close friend or even like part of the family.
So please visit our website or give us a call at 727-388-9712 and see how TLC Companion Care can help you or your loved one remain in the comfort and security of your home with the help of a caring companion.
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