Is it really possible that New Year is already upon us? Unfortunately, yes. Another year has quickly come and gone. And, of course, until somebody figures out how to slow down time for all of us, this is how it may feel, especially for those who have aging loved ones struggling with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
You may spend the bulk of your time and energy throughout the year supporting this aging loved one. You might burn yourself to the ragged edge. You may reach the end of the year — a time you once longed for those wonderful holidays to spend time with family and friends — and wonder if you’ll ever be able to enjoy them again.
Elder Care: Senior Dementia in Satsuma, AL
You might not even consider yourself a caregiver, but if you’ve been looking after a spouse, an aging parent, a grandparent, a brother or sister, or somebody else of advancing years who struggles to take care of themselves daily, that’s precisely what you have become. A family caregiver.
And while New Year’s Day used to bring with it some hope, a chance to refresh, recharge, and restart some things you had let go in the past, it doesn’t seem to have the same appeal (right now). It just seems like a reminder that another year of your life has come and gone with you missing out on so many other things that are also important to you.
Now is the time to look into elder care.
There are many different forms of elder care, but the one that may very well be the best is assisted living. Why would assisted living be the best option?
A quality facility should have experienced staff members.
Most of the time, family members have never supported an aging loved one before. They might’ve been too young when their grandmother or grandfather needed help, but their mother or father stepped in to provide that care. Without experience, too many mistakes can be made. There might be missed opportunities you look back on years from now and wish you had known about.
A quality assisted living community should have highly experienced staff members who are compassionate, caring, and supportive. That is a huge benefit that can help both of you start your new year off on the right foot.
Some assisted living facilities offer respite care.
Respite care essentially means short-term care. Most people associate assisted living with long-term care, a permanent solution to what some may view as a short-term challenge.
Not all facilities are equipped to provide respite care options, but for those that do, they may allow seniors to come and stay with them during the overnights, getting picked up in the morning to return home. Others may provide options to stay there for a few days a week, for one week at a time, or for a couple of weeks.
This helps seniors realize just how beneficial assisted living is for their needs moving forward.
It frees up family caregivers’ time.
A family caregiver gives up a lot in their life. It might be hobbies, work, time with their own children, studies if they are returning to school, and much more. By having that senior in a safe, comfortable, warm environment, family caregivers won’t have to sacrifice as much as they generally do, which can be beneficial for everyone involved.
About Cindy Johnson
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