As somebody who cares, you couldn’t possibly imagine turning your back on your elderly mother or father. Not during their time of need. After all they did for you, all the times they were there when you needed them, there was no possible way you could say ‘no’ when they need help.
Perhaps you never considered yourself a caregiver, but if you are helping an aging parent or other loved one get through the day, helping them take care of basic tasks of daily life, that’s precisely what you are.
Family caregivers undergo a great deal of stress.
There are many issues to deal with, not the least of which are your own responsibilities. Whether you’re raising children, have a career, a full-time job for a couple of part-time jobs, or other people counting on you, that’s a lot to deal with.
Then, on top of all that, you have added the responsibility of looking after an aging person. Sure, it is out of love and you wouldn’t have it any other way, but we need to be honest with ourselves.
How much is stress affecting you?
This is a question most people don’t consider when they first start supporting an aging parent, spouse, sibling, or other individual they love. They don’t worry about the stress because they don’t make excuses.
Some people feel it is their responsibility to look after their elderly mother or father. Whatever the reason for that belief, it is essentially not true. It is not another person’s responsibility, especially an adult child looking after an aging parent.
However, it is an act of love. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t stressful. With all of these other things you’re trying to get done each day, you now take on the responsibility of being there for somebody else. This will increase the amount of time you are away from your friends, your own family, children, and others who matter to you, too.
It will increase the amount of time you worry about this aging parent. You can’t be with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s not possible and it is certainly not reasonable. So, the worry and doubt and fear will increase.
This is going to affect other relationships. Your spouse, partner, friends, and so on will be patient at first, to an extent. But, when there are other options, like home care to take some of the pressure off you, but you don’t even consider it, that’s going to increase the strain on your interpersonal relationships.
Home care is truly a wonderful option to consider.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care in Anderson, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116. Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.
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