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Yes, You Can Continue Your Career While Caring for Your Parents!

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A businesswoman smiles as she understands that you don’t have to sacrifice your career while caring for your parents.

Caring for your parents doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your career!

Though we may dread the alarm going off on Monday mornings, having a career outside of the home is extremely important for many of us. It is a big component of our identity, signifying the time and effort we’ve invested throughout the years and accomplishments we’ve achieved. So what happens when your parents are starting to show signs of needing assistance to continue living safely at home? Will you face a choice between a career you love and caring for your parents?

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to ensure quality care for your parents without sacrificing your professional goals and aspirations. Here are a few to think about:

  • Include Technology: Technology can ease caregiving tasks, allow you to stay linked to loved ones and much more. If you can imagine it, it’s likely there’s an app for it! Research tech tools to help bridge the gap between career responsibilities and caregiving duties. From medication reminders to virtual support groups, technology can bring more efficiency to the care you’re providing.
  • Seek Support: Remember, you don’t need to do it all alone. Reach out to other loved ones, friends, and Responsive Home Care for assistance. You will be amazed at the resources and support available once you ask for help, allowing you to focus on your career with peace of mind. Building a good support network can provide emotional encouragement, practical assistance, and valuable insights, empowering you to navigate the complexities of caregiving while pursuing your professional goals.
  • Explore Flexible Work Arrangements: Many employers offer flexible work arrangements, like flexible hours or telecommuting, to support workers with caregiving responsibilities. Explore these possibilities with your employer to find a schedule that works for both your career and your caregiving duties. This will help you find a healthier balance with your personal and professional life, allowing you to excel in both areas.
  • Don’t Neglect Self-Care: Don’t forget to prioritize your own wellbeing in the middle of the demands of caregiving and your career. Take some time for self-care activities that restore your mind, body, and spirit. Whether it’s a leisurely walk in the park or a relaxing bubble bath, investing in yourself will ultimately make you a better caregiver and professional.
  • Take Advantage of Community Resources: Make full use of community resources and services intended to support caregivers. From adult day programs to respite care services, these resources can provide much-needed relief and assistance. By tapping into these resources, you can lighten your load and ensure your parents receive the very best care possible while you take care of your other responsibilities.

Caring for your parents while pursuing a profession is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s far from impossible. Contact Responsive Home Care and let’s work together to create a schedule for care that enables you to continue in your career while your parents thrive as well. Serving Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, and the nearby communities, we’re just a phone call away at 954-486-6440.

Should You Rethink the Way You Approach Caring for a Loved One?

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senior man hugging caregiver

You may have doubts about others caring for a loved one, but here’s why it’s important to let others help.

“You can make it, but it’s easier if you don’t have to do it alone.” – Betty Ford

We all realize that no person is an island, something that especially holds true when caring for a loved one with dementia. Nonetheless many family caregivers falter with regards to asking for or accepting the help they need. As a result, stress is exacerbated, as there’s little if any time for self-care – something that is essential for any person in a caregiving role.

Why are we frequently so resolved to tackle such an extraordinary undertaking independently? Here are several common reasons and why we must rethink them:

  • I am doing just fine on my own; I don’t need a break. To put it simply, science disagrees! A research study shared in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry revealed that a certain stress hormone was depleted in caregivers whose stress was chronic and prolonged – such as in providing Alzheimer’s care independently – while those who engaged in just two days per week of respite care achieved a rise in the hormone as well as a brighter outlook and elevated mood.
  • Mom would never want someone else taking care of her. Many of us would balk if we were told that someone was coming over to give us a bath. But having someone come and assist with housework and meals is a good approach to introduce a new caregiver, working your way up to additional necessary services once the caregiver is known and accepted. The phrasing you utilize tends to make a significant difference as well. Having a “salon day” sounds far more inviting, for instance.
  • No one else could take care of Mom like I will. While you are certainly not replaceable, the purpose of enlisting help is certainly not replacement, but respite. A senior with Alzheimer’s can benefit through the socialization provided by someone other than yourself, while you gain the benefit of a much-needed break – ultimately allowing you to provide better care to the older adult when you return.
  • It’s too time consuming to try and find a caregiver I will be able to trust. At Responsive Home Care, we background check and professionally train each one of our caregivers, confirming key character traits such as reliability, kindness, flexibility, and so much more. Responsive Home Care is insured and bonded, for your additional peace of mind. We also carefully match each older adult with the ideal caregiver who will be most compatible. Lastly, if an older adult’s primary caregiver is sick or on vacation, we will provide an equally qualified replacement caregiver.

If you’d like to explore in-home respite care for a senior you love with Alzheimer’s, connect with Responsive Home Care for caregiver services in Fort Lauderdale, FL or the surrounding area. Our professionally trained, experienced, creative, and compassionate caregivers are available to help you reduce stress, improve life for the senior you love, and provide you with the opportunity for self-care. Contact us at (954) 486-6440 to set up a free in-home assessment!

How to Confront Aging Parents About Care Assistance

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aging parents - dementia care fort lauderdale

Learn tips to address aging parent’s safety at home.

The initial signs may be so subtle that most people wouldn’t even notice. Mom is outgoing, friendly, and conversational while visiting friends and family and while running errands. But those closest to her are beginning to pick up on concerns; like forgetting about the soup cooking on the stove, leading to a scorched pan; putting her keys in the cookie jar; or neglecting to pay bills.

As an adult child of a senior in the beginning stages of compromised safety or the ability to make sound decisions, it can be extremely challenging to transition to a higher degree of involvement and care – yet it’s also extremely important to take steps sooner rather than later.

As with broaching any confrontational topic of conversation, talking with your senior loved one about the concerns you’re seeing is likely to be met with resistance and defensiveness at first. However, it’s important to outline the precise reasons for your concern, and the negative consequences if these behaviors continue or worsen.

Responsive Home Care recommends the following approach:

  1. Ensure that a durable power of attorney has been assigned.
  2. Confirm with your siblings that the issue needs to be addressed, and discuss together what options are available for the senior’s care as needs continue to progress.
  3. Remain compassionate but firm in your approach. Present the choices you’ve thought through. If your parent balks at the idea of moving to an assisted living facility, which many seniors do, offer an in-home caregiver as an alternative, allowing your loved one to remain independent and safe in the comfort of home.
  4. Understand that it will likely take several conversations before your loved one accepts the need for aging care assistance – which is why it’s essential to begin the process as soon as possible.

At Responsive Home Care, we’re experienced in helping seniors feel comfortable and positive about how our services can help improve safety and overall quality of life and wellbeing. When your family decides the time is right for assistance, we can help with highly customized care that can meet a wide range of needs, including:

  • Companionship
  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Housework and laundry
  • Transportation
  • Running errands
  • Highly specialized care for dementia
  • And so much more

Whether the need is for just a few hours each week to enhance safety and socialization, full-time care, or anything in between, partnering with Responsive Home Care improves quality of life for seniors, aging care and provides peace of mind for those who love them. Contact us online or call us today at 954-486-6440 for a free in-home consultation to learn how we provide the kind of dementia care Fort Lauderdale, FL families recommend most!