Do you ever feel alone when caring for your parents? You wish you had help, but you’re the only one nearby. Your siblings don’t live close enough to help or work too many hours. You’ve been doing all you can, but the stress is starting to get to you. You’re not alone.
The Facts About Family Caregivers
In 2015, the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP teamed up to take a closer look at unpaid family caregivers. The study found that there are more than 34 million men and women providing unpaid care to someone over the age of 50. Around half of those family-caregivers provide care to an aging parent or in-law.
That may not seem too difficult to believe. There are statistics that are a little harder to take. For example, 4 out of 10 family caregivers report they feel very burdened. About 14 percent of family caregivers feel that the jobs they have to do are too hard. Around 60 percent of those performing care services related to nursing care have no training and feel unprepared.
This is where stress starts to build. Caring for a parent is already hard. If the tasks you help with are unfamiliar and have you wishing you’d been better prepared, the stress will start to build. If your parents are argumentative and fight you, it’s also going to increase your stress. Knowing your parents are aging and struggling with certain daily routines is also stressful.
Family Care is the Third Leading Cause of Stress
The American Psychology Association reported the results of a “Stress in America” study. The top three sources of stress were:
1. Finances
2. Job
3. Family responsibilities
People making $50,000 or less each year were more likely to report feeling very stressed. The top stress management routines were to watch TV or a movie, browse favorite websites, or take a nap.
When you’re a family caregiver, it’s hard to find free time to do any of that. That’s where respite care can help.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is a branch of senior care services that is more for the caregiver than the senior citizen. Caregivers come to the home and step in for a few hours while the family caregiver takes a break. It’s an essential service and one you need to have for emotional support.
You need to investigate senior care services like respite care. Caregivers help out while you take a break. Your parents are not left alone, but you don’t have to be there. Talk to a senior care specialist to learn more about rates.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care Services in San Francisco, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org
https://www.apa.org/
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