Only when we first help ourselves can we effectively help others. Caring for yourself is one of the most important—and one of the most often forgotten—things you can do as a caregiver. When your needs are taken care of, the person you care for will benefit, too.
Often, primary caregivers compromise their own health in small, but cumulative ways. They stop getting the exercise they need, have interrupted sleep patterns, develop poor eating habits, and postpone or fail to make medical appointments for themselves. When the ongoing effect of emotional and physical stress becomes too much to bear, it is commonly known as care-giver burn-out.
Regular visits from Coordinated Seniors Service can buy you the time the need to care for yourself. How does a fresh cooked hot meal, and long afternoon nap sound? Such a simple thing can mean so much.
Remind yourself that it is not selfish to see that your own needs are met. You are absolutely deserving of care and support yourself. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak, and your loved one wants the best for you.
We try to make meaningful connections with everyone we support, offering dignity, respect and attention, honoring your preferences and learning from your experiences. No-one can replace the love and care that you provide, that’s why it’s so important to protect that precious commodity.
Respite Care:
It is a wonderful thing when Senior couples and families have the capacity to maintain the tasks of daily living independently. There is a harmony at work when one persons strengths and weakness compliments the the other, but this delicate balance can suddenly be disrupted by accident, illness, disability, or caregiver burn-out.
Suddenly, families are faced with what to do when the Primary Caregiver needs care.
Because we are a company that values responsive, flexible services, we are able to assist when other agencies can’t.
In circumstances of illness, injury, surgery, or prolonged medical outpatient treatment, we collaborate with families to develop a new care balance for the Senior and their Primary Caregiver.
We might stay at home with Dad and do light housekeeping while Mom goes out to shop, do errands and have a much needed break.
We can handle the special laundering needs that come after certain types of radiation or chemotherapy protocols.
We can bring Mom to the hospital to visit with Dad, collect the groceries and pick up Mom when her visit is done.
Recently, we assisted a couple when the Man of the house required scheduled surgery. We helped to pre-cook some meals that could be enjoyed during his recovery, and made sure the bedding was clean for his return. On the day of surgery, we transported him to hospital and kept him company through recovery while his daughter kept her Mother company at home. We participated in the discharge process and brought him home from hospital