It can be difficult for anyone to admit they need help, but this is especially true for adult children providing care for aging parents. Caregivers may be embarrassed, ashamed, and, in some cases, afraid they’ll be seen as failures if they seek assistance or professional help. However, caregiver support groups are designed specifically to help overwhelmed caregivers overcome such feelings. If you’re a family caregiver, here’s a list of questions that can help you determine whether a support group is right for you.
Do You Have a Nonjudgmental Support System?
Stepping into the role of caregiver gives rise to a variety of emotions. From sadness about a loved one’s loss of independence to negative feelings such as anger or resentment toward a senior parent, it’s normal for caregivers to feel as if they’re riding a roller coaster of emotions.
If you don’t have a support system in place that allows you to honestly share your feelings without feeling judged, a support group might be the right choice. Support groups are filled with other caregivers in similar situations. It’s often easier for them to empathize with your situation than it would be for a friend or family member who may be a source of unwanted criticism.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Potomac families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
Do You Have Access to Resources about Caregiving?
Those who have little to no information about caregiving may find a support group can help. While the internet is a convenient and readily available resource packed with information, it’s often reassuring to hear about the challenges other caregivers experience so you’ll know you aren’t alone on your journey. You are also free to ask questions, and you can receive tips pertaining to a range of caregiving topics, from time management to how to approach difficult situations. This can be extremely helpful for family members providing late-stage dementia care or caregivers helping seniors facing difficulties with the complex symptoms of Parkinson’s or strokes.
Other family caregivers can also offer advice about hiring a professional caregiver. When researching agencies that provide senior Home Care Potomac, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care.
Do You Feel Isolated & Overwhelmed?
Caregiving can be a lonely and overwhelming experience. Oftentimes, caregivers lose touch with friends because they have little time for anything but their caregiving responsibilities. These feelings of loneliness and withdrawal can result in more serious conditions such as depression and extreme feelings of anxiety that affect a caregiver’s health as well as the quality of care he or she provides. A support group can be the right decision for those who are feeling isolated and overwhelmed, providing a safe environment as well as an opportunity for socialization.
If you’re feeling isolated and overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities, a support group can be a wonderful source of encouragement. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Potomac at-home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (301) 363-2580to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
