Family caregivers pour a ton of time, energy, and love into everything they do for the seniors they love. But sometimes that means they don’t notice the signs that indicate to them that they really need some extra help with everything caregiving entails. Respite care offers the support that family caregivers are missing in their daily lives.
Frustration Is More Common Than Ever
One big sign that family caregivers need more help is when they’re more frustrated than usual with little issues. It’s a human response to feel frustration, but as a family caregiver, increased frustration is a symptom of overwhelm.
Having extra help from respite care services to lean on means that family caregivers are able to take a step back and reduce their stress levels.
Isolation and Disconnection Are Increasing
Very often, family caregivers who are starting to experience a lot of stress from caregiving start to feel disconnected from the world around them. It’s really difficult to maintain friendships and other relationships when family caregivers feel like they never have time to spare, too. That quickly leads to self-isolation, which isn’t a healthy way to live.
Physical Symptoms Are Increasing
If family caregivers experience physical symptoms, like body aches, frequent headaches, or trouble sleeping, these are also signs that there’s something more going on. Stress is often behind these issues, but another culprit can be chronic health conditions that family caregivers aren’t taking the time to manage properly.
There’s No Time for Anything
For many family caregivers, the response to taking time to exercise or go to their own doctor is that there just isn’t time. When that’s the usual answer to any form of self-care or necessary task for caregivers, that means that they’re spread too thin.
Having some time for themselves, like the time that respite care can add back into every week, allows them to refocus on some of their own needs for a change.
Personal Hygiene Is Falling by the Wayside
Sometimes family caregivers are so busy that they can’t even find time to take a shower or brush their teeth. While that might sound impossible, when every day is packed with work, other family needs, and taking care of aging family members, it’s easy to see how that could happen. Eventually, those missed showers and missed tooth brushings add up to hygiene difficulties.
Unhealthy Coping Habits Are a Problem
In more extreme cases, stress and lack of time for themselves mean that family caregivers find themselves relying on coping habits that aren’t really helpful. One drink to wind down and get some sleep eventually turns into two or more. Leaning heavily on alcohol or medications in unhealthy ways can become a big problem later on.
Paying attention to some of these signs can help family caregivers notice more quickly when it’s time for them to get some extra help. Respite care providers can offer that assistance, allowing family caregivers to take time for themselves, go to their own doctors, or take care of anything else that helps them to reduce stress and feel better prepared to take on daily life.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Respite Care in Kirkwood, MO, please contact the caring staff at Pear Tree Home Care today! (314) 942-9411
Pear Tree Home Care Provides Senior Home Care Services in St. Louis, Ladue, Chesterfield, Town and Country, Clayton, Des Peres, St. Charles, Wildwood, Brentwood, Maryland Heights, Lake St. Louis, O’Fallon, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Arnold, Oakville, Mehlville, Creve Coeur, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Franklin County, Warren County, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas.
At Pear Tree we’re innovators. Our goal, to create a family of caregivers looking to provide a one of a kind experience to our clientele.
In 2016, our founders noticed a key problem in home care industry that everyone seemed to be ignoring.
It’s too systematic. Home care isn’t one size fits all. Just like people aren’t one size fits all.
That’s where Pear Tree comes in.
We yearn for you to have the best possible care for your loved ones and the peace of mind that comes with knowing they aren’t only in good hands. They’re in great hands. Because, in the end, that’s what we’d want for our family.
It’s proven. When the home care experience is immersive and personalized, you’re going to produce better success rates with healthier family members.
Please, join us in our journey of revolutionizing the home care industry and creating lasting relationships along the way.
This is not the first Home Care agency for Pat, she was the Director of nursing for Kimberly Nurses in 1980 and after the tragic passing of the companies president she opened and co-founded American Nursing Resources Home Health Agency. Pat opened and passed Medicare certification for ANRHHA Clayton and Washington, MO offices.
For Zachary, the name “Pear Tree” is a tribute to his beloved late friend; Wade Abbadessa. Wade worked at his family’s famous restaurant “The Pear Tree” in Macon, until his tragic death in September 2014. Wade lost his battle with a rare form of bone cancer at the young age of 26. His legacy will live on through our company.
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