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Four Things Family Caregivers Need to Keep in Mind

As a family caregiver, what do you often forget about your role? It’s time to put yourself first. Granted, you’ll want to make sure your parents get the very best care, but it’s not good for them if you’re burning out and feeling trapped in your role. Here are four things you have to keep in mind.

You Must Consider Your Finances

Make sure you’re considering your financial wellness before you quit a job or reduce work hours. While you may find it easiest to stop and focus on your parents’ care, you must consider yourself. If quitting means you won’t have health insurance, is that a risk you’re willing to take?

Would you be able to afford rent, a mortgage, utilities, and your car if you didn’t have a job? If you’re moving in with your parents, what happens if you find it’s too difficult to share a home with them and need to move out? Would you have the money to pay for the security deposit and rent somewhere else?

What If Your Health Changes?

You also have to consider what happens if something happens and you cannot continue caring for them. Suppose you fall while doing their laundry and break your arm in the fall. You can’t help them for several weeks. What happens now?

If you stopped working and dropped insurance to be the primary family caregiver, are you on a spouse’s policy, or will you be paying for medications and treatments out of pocket? Can you afford that?

Are You Prepared for the Potential Isolation?

It can be very isolating to provide care to an elderly parent. If you spend all day and night helping your parents with their medications, personal care, meals, transportation, etc., you may not have time left for your friends.

You’d hope your friends are understanding, but it’s not always the case. If they grow tired of you always saying no to outings or gatherings, they may reach a point where they stop asking. You can’t ignore them.

Respite Care Services Help You Take Breaks

Personal care at home does help your parents, but did you realize it helps you? If you’ve been the main caregiver to your mom and dad, you probably aren’t taking many breaks. If you’re not socializing or having time to yourself, you’ll burn out.

With a personal care at home aide, your parents get the assistance they need. While the caregiver is with your mom and dad, you can visit friends, spend time with your spouse, or do whatever else you’ve been putting off. Call a specialist in personal care at home to schedule home care services.