Taking on the role of family caregiver can give you the opportunity to build a strong relationship with your aging parent, or it can strengthen the bond you two have already established. The downside is there will be some experiences that lead to negative emotions, but these feelings can be prevented. Here are some of the most common emotions family caregivers experience at some point.
Doubt
You may doubt your abilities in the early stages of caregiving, especially if your loved one is diagnosed with a chronic condition or an age-related disease. You may feel you aren’t capable of making your loved one stronger emotionally, mentally, and physically.
The doubt you feel could take a toll on your overall health, causing you to be stressed out and depressed. To prevent this from happening, simply give your all and learn to accept your best. You can also speak with your loved one’s doctors and nurses to get tips that simplify the caregiving process.
If you’re caring for a senior loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Though you may be researching multiple agencies that provide homecare, Assisting Hands Home Care Portland has much to offer your family and your elderly loved one. We are leaders in the senior home care industry, offering high-quality assistance from reliable, experienced caregivers. Trust Assisting Hands Home Care to help your loved one enjoy a happier and healthier life in the golden years.
Resentment
The biggest mistakes many family caregivers make include quitting their jobs, shelving their dreams, and isolating themselves from others. Giving up things that are important to you could lead to resentment and caregiver burnout.
Before you cut back on your hours at work, ask other family members to step in and help out with your loved one’s care. You can also hire a professional caregiver to come to the house and help out while you’re away at work.
Never give up on your dreams and goals at any point. In fact, these are the things that can provide an escape from caregiving. Remember to find the balance between your personal life and your caregiver commitments to prevent resentment and other negative emotions.
In Portland, in-home care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.
Anger
Seeing your loved one’s health decrease and knowing there isn’t anything you can do to stop it may cause you to become angry. Instead of dwelling on what you cannot change, learn to embrace the time you have now and make the best of it.
Being angry could disrupt your daily routine. A negative atmosphere is also bad for a senior’s overall health. Each time you get upset and angry, think of something positive that can boost your mood. For example, if your loved one is confined to bed, instead of becoming angry that he or she can’t walk alone, be glad for his or her other abilities, such as hearing, sight, and memory.
Guilt
If you take time away to go on a vacation, hang out with friends, or work out at the gym, you may feel guilty for leaving your loved one in someone else’s care. You should never feel guilty about taking care of yourself. If you’re unable to care for yourself, it will be difficult to provide high-quality care to your loved one.
Another reason family caregivers experience guilt is because they see their loved ones falling ill while their own health is in good shape. Remember your loved one has lived longer than you and likely experienced more than you have. Therefore, your parent wouldn’t want you to feel guilty for living your life. It’s important for you to enjoy life now, before your own health begins to decrease.
Caring for an aging loved one can be overwhelming. However, families can reduce the physical, mental, and emotional stress by reaching out to a professional in-home caregiver. Families looking for top-rated Portland home care service providers can reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones. To hire a professionally trained caregiver, call us at 503-664-7934.
