Adjusting to the dynamics of becoming a caregiver can be an exacting and stressful situation. This is because it involves making changes to all aspects of life, such as your social life and your career. Providing constant care and attention to someone you love can also be tiring despite your feelings of love and concern. These feelings are perfectly normal, but it becomes a problem if you’re starting to feel burned out, isolated, or drained. The reasons for feeling this way can vary from individual to individual and it depends largely on context and personal circumstance. These feelings may seem to arise out of nowhere, but they can also come about in the aftermath of particularly exacting situations, such as a complex medical procedure.
In these situations, what many individuals end up considering is respite care – a program centered around giving both the caregiver and their responsibility a break so that both parties can feel rejuvenated and ready to resume their relationship. That said, it can be difficult to bring up the idea to your loved ones for a variety of reasons. The root of these reasons is often misinformation as to what respite care is. So, to educate both you and your parents about respite care, let’s challenge some of the reasons why they may feel opposed to respite care.
Reason #1: Respite Care Is Unprofessional
Your parents may fear that they won’t get the proper care and support they need at respite care. What if the respite care team don’t “get them” or their needs? Hence, they may have reservations about the quality of care they’ll receive.
It is important to assure your parents that this simply isn’t true. Respite care programs are run by well-trained individuals who dedicate their time and energy to see to the comfort and care of their community. Most communities make sure their staff are certified and they tend to have medical teams in the community at every hour of the day. If in doubt as to whether the team can meet the needs of your parents, most would also be happy to meet you beforehand to discuss your concerns and brainstorm solutions.
Reason #2: Respite Care Is Lonely or Boring
Many respite care programs also run additional recreational activities for their residents, so every day can be fun-filled and enriching. For instance, at Rittenhouse Village At Lehigh Valley, our respite care program allows residents to engage with the full-suite of lifestyle programs in our community. This includes our Celebrations activities calendar, our gourmet style Impressions dining room, and our Dimensions Fitness and health program. We are sure to have something that meets your parents’ interest.
Reason #3: Respite Care Means Losing Their Independence
There is the perception that when you join a respite care program, you’ll lose your independence. This is something your parents may fear, especially if they value their sense of self-sufficiency and autonomy. However, this is certainly not always the case. Respite care isn’t about controlling your parent’s life, it’s about helping your parent’s carry out their acts of daily living, and any task they may have difficulty with so that they can focus on doing the things they like to do.
Respite Care at Rittenhouse Village At Lehigh Valley
If you are considering respite care for your parents, why not bring them over to our beautiful grounds for a tour? That way, they can see and experience for themselves, the vibrant community at Rittenhouse Village At Lehigh Valley. Schedule a tour today!
