This week is National Caregiver Recognition and this month is National Home Care Month.

We want to recognize those family caregivers who sacrifice so much to care for their loved ones.

As a family caregiver, the thought of hiring someone to care for your loved one may bring up a whole host of concerns. Among them may be:

• Worry
• Cost
• Guilt

Worry: Many caregivers believe they are the only ones who can properly care for their loved one. Others worry that their loved one may take that act of hiring an outside caregiver as a “lack of caring” by their family member. And for those just starting out as a family caregiver, you may be concerned that your loved one will be resistant to the idea that he or she needs “outside” help. Although any of the above may be true for your situation, most often the addition of a professional caregiver is well received by the elderly. Check out our radio interview and testimonial page to see what many of our own clients have to say.

Cost: The cost of hiring a non-medical caregiver is an expense that most people do not plan for and often they are surprised when it is not covered by their health insurance. This can cause people to make the decision to “do it all themselves” which can be done for a while but it will take its toll. Statistics proving the health and stress problems that afflict family caregivers is well documented and easy to find. Additionally, lack of training and support is associated with poor health outcomes for both caregivers and recipients according to the 2007 Report to the Health Trust: Recommendations for Wellness Initiatives that came out of UC Berkley. There are also numerous studies that show family caregivers suffer in the workplace through lost time, wages, and they are often not seen as viable candidates for promotions and merit raises. When all of this is taken into consideration, the choice of “doing it all yourself” is much more costly than paying for non-medical care. But before you run out and hire someone, we suggest you know the facts. We can also help you explore resources for payment that you might not be aware of, such as Veteran’s benefits, Health Care Spending accounts and other options.

Guilt: Many family caregivers resist hiring a professional caregiver because they feel like they should be able to do it. That by taking “some time off” they are somehow being a bad daughter or wife. In reality, the average family caregiver is married, female, mid-forties to early fifties who works a full time job and spends 18 hours each week providing care to a loved one. It is no wonder that stress and health issues are so rampant in family caregivers. No one can successfully operate at a “sprint” pace for years without serious consequences to their health and mental wellness. Some of the symptoms of caregiver stress are:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Gaining or losing a lot of weight
• Feeling tired most of the time
• Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Becoming easily irritated or angered
• Feeling constantly worried
• Often feeling sad
• Frequent headaches, bodily pain, or other physical problems
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs.

If you find yourself in this list, it is impossible to hide your suffering from the person you are caring for, because that person cares about you, too. It is likely she is very aware of the toll your caregiving roll is taking on you, and she suffers from a sense of guilt over it. Making a plan to maximize your availability to her through the strategic use of professional caregiving services, even if it is only for 8 hours once a month, is a wise and loving thing to do for you and for your loved one.

Guilt also tends to make you feel like you have to do it today because your loved one may not be here tomorrow but it is more likely your loved one will live for many years. It is essential that those years be as positive and full of joy as possible. Let us help you make each day more joyful by providing you with some time to not worry, to exist with confidence that what needs to be done is being done and that all is well because your loved one-although not in your hands-is in good hands. Research shows that people who take an active, problem-solving approach to caregiving issues are less likely to feel stressed than those who react by worrying, feeling helpless or guilt-ridden. A professional caregiver can help you and your loved one get more out of life in so many ways.

Contact us and schedule a time for a free in-home assessment. During the assessment, we can answer any questions you might have about what we do and whether we are the right choice for you and your loved one. The assessment is not a sales call; it is an opportunity for you to more fully explore our services, our caregiver training, and for us to find out if we are a good match to your needs. At the very least, you will find the assessment educational and helpful to you.