Home Care in Indianapolis, IN – You May Be Increasing Your Stress Level By Making Assumptions About Your Senior’s Abilities

The moment you agreed to be a caregiver for your aging mother, you might not have taken the time to truly understand what this means. You knew she was having difficulty tending to her basic needs at home alone, and since you didn’t live too far away it seemed to make sense.

Over time, though, you’ve learned a great deal about what it means to be a caregiver. Just because it’s your elderly mother who requires assistance doesn’t make it any easier than it might be for somebody else to take care of her. In fact, many family members end up dealing with more challenges than a professional in home care provider may face when working with those elderly loved ones.

There could be a variety of factors that impact the quality of care as well as the stress you may be experiencing as a result. One of those could be the emotional connection you have with your mother. Just because you’re emotionally close to somebody doesn’t mean things are going to go smoothly, especially when they require some type of care at home.

In today’s society, many people have to work in order to make ends meet. Some people work because they want to, even though they might not need the money with their spouse bringing in a good income. In either case, a full-time job is going to increase the level of the stress and anxiety the caregiver may feel because their time is infinitely more limited.

You could be discovering that the things you’re telling your mother not to do or even try are not being heeded properly. That can be frustrating on its own, but it also may be symptomatic of a lack of understanding about what is beneficial for seniors.

Many family caregivers misunderstand what their loved ones require. They may begin to support them, assisting them with light housekeeping, getting out of bed in the morning, doing laundry, and other such basic tasks around the house and see those limitations with their loved one as being a sign they should take it easy, avoid strenuous activities altogether, or stay at home as much as possible.

Elderly individuals often want to get out, experience life, pursue various interests, spend time with friends, and much more. This can create tension in the relationship and that can exacerbate stress and anxiety.

For any family caregiver who is feeling the effects of stress and anxiety as a result of the work they’re doing should seriously consider the prospect of hiring a professional in home care provider through a home care agency. They can hire a professional caregiver for just one or two days a week, if that’s more reasonable so they can continue to help their loved one. That often leads to a higher quality of care and a better quality of life for everyone involved.

The caregivers at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs. Great Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable home care in Indianapolis, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (317) 595-9933 for more information.