Understanding Common Family Caregiver Issues

Caring for your aging parents is an extremely rewarding act of love. As you think about the care they provided for you when you were growing up, you now have the opportunity to reciprocate. It allows you to take your relationship with your parents to a whole new level.

Having said that, providing care for family members isn’t always a bed of roses. It’s important to recognize the pitfalls you may experience and to understand how to manage them to protect your own overall health. Some common family caregiver issues include:

Lack of Privacy

Your physical and emotional privacy can both be affected if you’re sharing living space with your parents. This is especially true if one or both of your parents have dementia, which could cause them to feel lost or fearful when you step out of the room. Similarly, your parents may find it difficult to maintain privacy while in your care.

Lack of Sleep

Interrupted sleep can arise from an older adult whose circadian clock has shifted, causing them to waken more often during the night. It may be caused by stress and worry. If dementia is a factor, wandering and sundowning can cause you to stay on alert. Sufficient sleep is crucial to your ability to provide the very best care for your parents, as well as for your own emotional and physical wellness.

Lack of Support

You may feel as if the lion’s share of caregiving falls on your shoulders. This can lead you to assume you are solely responsible for your parents’ care, which is not only overwhelming, but can cause hurt feelings and frustration in other relationships. No one person can effectively care for another by themselves. Trying to do so places you at an increased risk for depression, burnout, and other serious health conditions, and also impacts the level of care your parents receive.

How Can You Conquer These Family Caregiver Issues?

Fortunately, there is one simple solution to all of these concerns. Morning Glory Home Care’s in-home caregivers are available to partner with you to ensure the best care for your parents and a healthier life balance for you. Taking time away from caregiving isn’t just a good idea; it’s imperative.

Our respite care services allow you to take regular breaks from caregiving for your own self-care, while enriching the lives of your parents. We provide additional opportunities for socialization and engagement in enjoyable activities along with the necessary support to promote safety and comfort—so you can have peace of mind in knowing your parents are in the best of hands while you are away.

Contact us at 618-667-8400 to learn more about our customized in-home care solutions for older adults. Our services are available in Edwardsville, Belleville, Collinsville, and the surrounding areas. Visit our Service Area page to see if we can help in your community.