As a caregiver, you probably have days when you wonder how you wound up responsible for an older adult family member’s wellbeing.
You might even feel like it’s a thankless job and, though you love your family member, you wish you could just be done. These aren’t feelings people like to confront, but for caregivers, they are very normal. On those days when you’re not sure what you’re doing or why it can be helpful to remind yourself that the rewards of being a caregiver often outweigh the difficulties. Need a reminder of the rewards? Here are just 5 rewards you get from being a caregiver to an older adult.
#1 Fulfilling Relationship
Spending extra time with an older adult while helping with household tasks and personal care can make your relationship with them even stronger. In fact, some say it produces the kind of relationship you can’t get any other way. In a study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), 77 percent of respondents said that being a caregiver made their relationship stronger than it had been before.
#2 Sense of Satisfaction
Knowing that you make a difference in the life of your aging family member can provide a tremendous sense of satisfaction. It feels good to help other people. Knowing that your care makes the difference between the older adult remaining happily at home and living in a long-term care facility should make you feel fantastic.
#3 Great Care
When you are a family caregiver, you know their care is being overseen by someone who loves them—you! So, you know they’re receiving the best possible care because you’ve coordinated other family caregivers and home care providers to work as a team to give great care.
#4 Connections
Being a caregiver can help you form connections with people you may not have otherwise met. Along with your journey, you may develop friendships with other caregivers you encounter, such as people in a support group. You may also build stronger bonds with friends who have also been caregivers and know what you’re going through.
#5 Serving as a Role Model
When you serve as a caregiver to an older adult, you’re modeling good values and behaviors to your children and other young family members. Caring for the people in our lives is the right thing to do, and you’re living proof of that. Since there’s a chance that your younger family members may need to help you one day, these are important lessons to learn.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Piedmont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
Sources
https://thecaregiverspace.org/
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