Part of the human condition involves people pushing themselves until they’re exhausted, especially in situations such as being a family caregiver. What happens is that you need breaks from the very beginning of your caregiving journey. Here’s how to make that happen.

Acknowledge that You Are Going to Need This.

You might feel at first as if you don’t need to be taking breaks from caregiving. Right now, that might be true. That doesn’t mean that it will be true in the long run. In fact, it definitely won’t be true forever. Remember that any job allows breaks, both during the workday itself and in the form of weekends, days off, and vacations. Caregiving is like a job and if you remember that, you can grasp the importance of breaks more readily.

Breaks Don’t Have to Be Big.

A common misconception for many caregivers is that breaks have to be a longer or bigger event rather than a smaller one. Your definition of a break might be that you go run errands alone for half an hour. Or it might be that you take a book to a quiet spot in the house while your senior naps. It might also be that you hire elder care providers to take over for the weekend so you can have time away. All of these are valid ways to take a break.

Introduce Your Senior to Elder Care Providers Now.

Many aging adults have trouble accepting help from elder care providers, especially when it seems to be a sudden development to them. Having earlier introductions to elder care services and to people who can help her can make the entire process less frustrating and frightening for your elderly family member.

Make a Commitment to Take Time Away.

This may not be easy for you to do right off the bat. That’s why making a commitment to yourself can help you to prioritize this decision. You can also make a commitment to gradually increase the types and durations of the breaks that you take. This can ease both you and your elderly family member into the idea of you being away a little more often.

Starting this process early means that you are ahead of the boulder that’s rolling right at you. It’s vital that you remember to take time for yourself so that you don’t let yourself become overwhelmed and worn down.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elder care in Mauldin, 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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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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