When to consider care for a friend or family member
Making the decision to transition someone dear to you into long-term care or retirement care is never easy. As difficult as this decision might be, sometimes it is necessary for ensuring your loved one receives the best possible care and are in an environment where they have the right support system to thrive. Unsure whether it’s the right time to consider care for a friend or family member? Here are a few things to consider:
- Feeling constantly stressed or overwhelmed
Taking care of a loved one can be fulfilling in many ways, but can come with a number of responsibilities that can get difficult to manage along with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Not to mention, the more stressed or overwhelmed you become about the situation, the harder it’ll be to adequately care for your loved one. If you’re feeling like your role as a caregiver is starting to take a toll on your mental or physical health, it might be time to consider looking into support or transitioning your loved one into a care residence. Making this decision will ensure your loved one is always supervised and in the presence of highly skilled individuals who have the right knowledge and training to tend to their needs. - Feeling unable to prioritize your own needs
At the end of the day, we want to make sure we are balancing needs, including those of our loved ones, as well as our own. If your average day-to-day involves a to-do list that seems never-ending and there is difficulty making time for yourself, then you might benefit from receiving support. Ask yourself, are you having a hard time managing your day-to-day responsibilities? Do you have any free time to yourself? Is it becoming increasingly hard to tend to all the needs of your loved one? If you answered yes to most of these questions, then it might be the right time to consider long-term or retirement care as an option. - Your loved one requires specialized care
The role of a caregiver becomes that much more complex when a loved one requires a specialized form of care. When looking after someone that requires special attention, you’ll need to do a lot of learning to ensure you’re taking all the right steps as a caregiver, which could also include frequent check-ins with various healthcare professionals. What’s great about long-term care and retirement care residences is that there’s usually a team of well-trained staff that have a perfect understanding of how to care for individuals with complex needs, as well as how to create a safe and accessible space for them. Also, most residences will have access to specialized equipment or medical tools, along with a team of trained professionals who can provide specialized healthcare services when required. - Greater sense of community
Residences have a unique aspect of community that can be very fun and exciting for residents. From meeting new people and establishing connections with other residents who might be experiencing something similar, to participating in events or activities from a well-thought-out social calendar, there’s always something going on to keep residents entertained. Overall, long-term care residents get to become a part of a huge community that involves other residents, staff members, and volunteers. Being in the presence of this group of people can help residents feel a strong sense of belonging while uplifting those who might have negative feelings about experiencing a decline in health.
Empowering residents and caregivers
As a caregiver, there’s a lot to consider before making the decision to transition a loved one into a long-term care or retirement care residence. There are several benefits for both the resident and caregiver that can come from making this transition. For the most part, residents can look forward to becoming a part of a community where they feel empowered to live life to its fullest potential and being around a huge support system with people from all walks of life who truly understand what they’re going through. For caregivers, knowing that your loved one is in good hands and enjoying themselves within a supportive environment can provide a huge sense of satisfaction and relief.