Being a carer of an elderly relative, or a child or adult with a disability, will not always be easy. You love your relative and would do anything for them, but time constraints can take their toll and available services are often hard to access.
Though there are many services providing home healthcare, elderly healthcare and care for adults with disabilities, it is not only the person being cared for that can benefit from such a service.
How does a care service help the whole family?
Emergency respite care, or planned care, can give everyone a much-needed break.
It provides an opportunity for some time for individuals to clear their heads, temporarily free from responsibilities and care demands.
If you’re a family carer, this break is your chance to recharge. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and it’s important to take time to get yourself back on track so that you can be your best for other people.
Occasional respite care can help the whole family, if you have a child with a disability. It can allow siblings some quality time with their parents’ full attention, which is undoubtedly important for their mental health and well-being.
Making use of a care service can create feelings of guilt. Yet, it is very important to remember that it’s healthy for all people to spend some time apart, no matter what their day-to-day needs are.
How can care providers offer support?
Your care provider will get to know the individuals in their care, and the families that work tirelessly to ensure that their needs are met. Nobody signs up to being a family carer by choice, but it’s an honour that so many take on.
Providing care for someone with additional needs would be an enormous challenge for anyone to face alone. Often, it takes a team of people – friends, family and professionals – all working together to ensure that the hurdles can be jumped. Care services can support the whole family, not just physically but emotionally, with years of experience in dealing with the types of issues that might be new to you and your loved ones.
