Getting away for a little bit of respite time as a family caregiver is not always the easiest part of being a caregiver. You can talk yourself out of taking that time if you’re not careful and that’s not good for you or your loved one.
Schedule it In Like an Appointment
The reason that you have to schedule your respite time as if it’s an appointment is because it is. You have to think about it like an appointment so that you can stay committed to it. This is an appointment with yourself for your own mental and emotional health. You can’t skip it or reschedule it too many times or you’ll find yourself having problems because of lack.
Make a True Plan for Your Respite Time
It’s one thing to jot a note on your calendar and then think you’ll figure it out when the time comes. You have to actually plan your respite time. What are you going to do? Who will take over for you? Where will you be going? Even if your respite time is for an afternoon manicure, having a plan in place makes the event more real for you. You’ll have a tougher time giving up on a solid plan.
Talk to Your Loved One
Prepare your loved one in advance. Let her know that you’ll be away for a few hours or for the day. If you’re going to be gone longer, you definitely want to give her plenty of time to absorb what that means for her. Let your loved one know that you have a plan in place to make sure that she’s going to be alright and that you’ll miss her while you’re gone.
Stress to Your Backups How Important This Is for You
You’ve found a family member who can take over for you and that’s great. But if that person doesn’t understand how vital it is for you to have this time away, you might find yourself dealing with someone who flakes out on you. Make sure you stress to your backups how important this is to you. It doesn’t hurt to also have a backup for your backup.
You’ll be able to come back to your loved one refreshed, recharged, and with a better outlook on everything. That’s a gift for both of you.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional caregiver in San Francisco, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
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