How Home Care Supports Family Caregivers: Reducing Burnout After the Holidays
After the holidays, a common scenario for many New York family caregivers unfolds: exhausted, depleted, and wondering if they will ever find some relief from their caregiving duties.
Family caregivers across the country are no strangers to this feeling. Over 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to elderly relatives; nearly 40% of these caregivers say they feel stressed or burnt-out most of the time – and especially so during holidays.
The reason why caregiver burnout peaks after the holidays is that family caregivers take on even more responsibilities and roles than usual during this time.
Many examples include:
- Managing medical needs while hosting family and friends
- Hosting guests and still being responsible for your loved ones’ daily needs
- Coordinating medications, meals, and transportation for your senior
- Putting off their own rest, time to themselves and taking care of themselves to make sure their loved one has what he/she needs.
Research shows that 1/3 of all family caregivers suffer from depression or anxiety and the stress level rises dramatically when there is little to no break from caregiving duties.
That’s why Angel Care Inc. believes that professional home care is vital to helping reduce burnout and allowing family caregivers to continue caring for their loved ones without suffering from burnout.
Professional home care provides the support that both seniors and their families need.
Support through Respite and Recharge
When you hire a professional home care company, like Angel Care Inc., you allow your family to take a break and recharge. Studies indicate that caregivers who receive regular respite care have between 20% to 30% less stress.
Sharing Responsibilities
With professional home care assistance, family caregivers no longer carry the weight of managing every single aspect of their loved one’s life. Professional caregivers can assist with:
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, moving around safely)
- Meal prep and keeping hydrated
- Reminding your loved one to take his/her medication
- Supervising and spending time with your loved one
All of which results in a much better and more manageable way to care for your loved one.
Peace of Mind for the Whole Household
When your loved one is cared for by a professional home care agency, you will get a sense of peace knowing that they are safe and well taken care of. This gives your whole household a great deal of emotional relief and will result in:
- Improved sleep
- Reduced anxiety
- Greater confidence in knowing that your loved one is being properly cared for
Benefits for Seniors and Their Families
Angel Care Inc.’s professional home care services benefit everyone in the household:
- Your senior receives reliable, kind, and attentive care
- The family avoids making hasty and stressful decisions in times of crisis
- Relationships between family members are improved when stress is removed
- Care transitions from being reactive to proactive
Studies show that seniors who receive continuous home care experience 20–25% fewer emergency hospital visits. This greatly relieves the pressure on families.
A Healthier Beginning to the New Year
Now is the best time to review your loved one’s care plan and work toward achieving balance in the new year. Getting help isn’t a failure; it is an approach to maintaining overall wellness.
Here at Angel Care Inc., we understand that family caregivers can become burned out quickly – especially after the holiday season. That is why our home care agency offers a variety of professional home care services to support both your senior loved one and your family.
Let us help you achieve a healthier beginning to the New Year by restoring your family’s balance, protecting your family’s health and ensuring that the love you have for your senior loved one doesn’t turn into exhaustion.
Many seniors in New York have made the decision to age at home, and for many, it is a top priority. Maintaining independence while remaining in their own home contributes to an individual's emotional well-being and quality of life; however, simply maintaining one's own home is not enough to ensure safety and a sense of calm. Aging at home effectively and safely requires more than day-to-day assistance, it also involves creating the proper legal plans and having adequate home care support in place. More than 90 percent of older adults have expressed a desire to remain in their own homes, yet nearly 60 percent of families report feeling unprepared when unexpected health or legal decisions need to be addressed. Preparing for the future can assist in preventing undue stress, anxiety, confusion and hasty decision-making. Why Legal Planning Is Important for Aging at Home Unforeseen changes in health status occur frequently. Absent from advance legal directives, families may experience delays in care, disagreements and/or court intervention when rapid decisions need to be made. Preparing for the future enables seniors to: Have greater control over medical and personal decisions Choose whom they wish to advocate for them Minimize the likelihood of being placed into a guardianship proceeding Assure continuity in home care services Advance planning affords both seniors and their families a sense of peace of mind. Important Legal Documents Every Senior Should Have Power of Attorney: A Power of Attorney (POA) permits a designated person to handle financial/legal issues on behalf of the senior, i.e., pay bills, deal with insurance companies and manage Medicaid related paperwork. A POA is particularly important for seniors receiving, or anticipating the receipt of, home care services. Healthcare Proxy: A Healthcare Proxy permits a senior to appoint a person to make medical decisions on their behalf if the senior becomes incapacitated. In New York, a Health Care Proxy assures that healthcare providers will abide by the senior's wishes regarding treatment/care. Living Will: A Living Will details a senior's preferences regarding medical treatments, including life sustaining care. This document provides direction to both family members and healthcare providers when making difficult/emotional decisions. Numerous studies indicate that seniors possessing advance legal documents experience fewer interruptions in their care and less family conflict when medical emergencies occur. How Legal Planning Facilitates Success in Home Care There is a direct relationship between being legally prepared and successfully obtaining home care services. Having the necessary documentation facilitates: The expedience of the approval process and assessment of care Clear communication with home care service agencies Protection of the senior's rights/preferences Reducing the risk of emergency placement in a skilled nursing facility As more than 70 percent of home care services in New York State are provided through Medicaid funding, having legal authority in place assists families in navigating Medicaid applications/reassessments/appeals. Role of Families in Planning Ahead Families are instrumental in both planning for future legal needs and planning for future care needs. By engaging in open dialogue prior to an urgent need for care arises, families can avoid making hasty decisions. Families should: Engage in discussions of preferred care options prior to needing urgent care Know where the senior's legal documents are located Be actively engaged in updating care plans Be advocates for changes as the senior's needs evolve Consistent research demonstrates that active family involvement results in positive outcomes for both the senior and their care experience. A More Secure, Peaceful Way of Aging at Home When home care services and legal planning are working together, aging at home is successful. Clear documentation along with professional care enable seniors to maintain their independence, dignity and comfort in their own home. Angel Care Inc. NY believes that quality home care extends beyond providing day-to-day assistance. At Angel Care Inc., we believe that we can support our clients' and families' understanding of the necessary planning steps required to protect their independence, dignity and peace of mind. Preparing for the future today will provide you with confidence in your ability to create a secure and peaceful path forward, allowing you to continue to enjoy the comfort, security and trust of aging at home.
