In the past month, approximately 22% of adults report that they’ve had to take care of a family member. A quarter of these family caregivers are women, and a quarter of all family caregivers are between the ages of 45 and 64. If you stop and think about everything your sister does to help your dad throughout the week, how often does she get a break? The holidays are stressful for everyone, but they can be increasingly stressful for family caregivers. Make sure you’re supporting your sister this holiday season. Have you considered hiring companion care at home providers to lighten the load?

Take Over Some Tasks

Companion Care at Home Kingsburg CA – Support the Family Caregiver This Holiday Season

Your sister has always hosted Christmas dinner. This year, she’s taking care of your dad, too, and she’s stressed. Change things up. Talk to her about having a potluck dinner. Everyone will bring a favorite dish. Volunteer to stop by the day before and help get her home clean and ready for guests.

If she’d prefer, you could host Christmas at your house for a change. She won’t have to worry about cleaning and preparing her home for guests. The pressure is off, so she can focus on having a fun time with her family.

Mention Specifics

When you’re caring for a parent, it’s easy to forget things. Even with a list, it’s only helpful if you stop everything to add an item to the list. Announce you’re heading to the grocery store and can pick up your sister’s grocery order at the same time. Say that you want to bring dinner and ask what restaurant you should order from.

Mention that you have to run to the post office to buy stamps. Ask if your dad has stamps or if you should pick up stamps for him at the same time. Sometimes, family caregivers don’t want to ask for help. By listing specifics and saying you’re going here, it makes it easier for her to accept help.

Give Them Time Off by Hiring Companion Care at Home Aides

Step in and offer to help for a day or two. About 33% of family caregivers provide more than 20 hours of care per week. More than half of them have been helping for the past two years. It’s not always a short-term situation. If your dad has Alzheimer’s, it’s no surprise to find he needs help for 10, 15, or even 20 years.

If your dad has Alzheimer’s, it’s an isolating disease for both your dad and your sister. As your dad’s cognitive and motor skills decrease, she has to be ready for anything. That often means bypassing social events, staying home 24/7, and leaving a job.

Make sure you’re checking in and ensuring your sister has time off. You could offer to take over from Friday night to Sunday night, giving her two days off.

You may not live close enough to step in and help out each week. Research and arrange companion care at home for your dad. Specifically, ask about respite care from a companion care at home aide. Allow your sister to have her day off by having a paid caregiver take over.

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/caregiver-brief.html

If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in Kingsburg CA, please contact the caring staff at Everlight Home Care today. Call us at 559-353-2847.

Private Duty Home Care in Fresno, Madera, Kern Counties, and surrounding communities. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Gina Kendall

Gina Kendall has over 25 years of work experience serving the aging and the disabled. Her extensive experience in care and management began as a Social Services Coordinator in skilled nursing facilities. While working in this capacity, she became aware of the need for, and the importance of, good, quality, home care. Gina worked with families to keep their loved ones home and avoid a return visit to the hospital. As she continued her career of service, she began working with the disabled population helping to expand and improve their independence throughout all aspects of life.

This combination of experiences has afforded Gina a unique view of the needs of the aging and the disabled and how to best serve those needs in a home setting.

Gina’s Central Valley roots run deep. She earned her BA degree from Fresno State in 1993 and has lived and worked in Fresno for the past 20 years. In addition to raising her family in Fresno, she is actively involved in her local church and is a volunteer for various local community organizations.

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