Do You Need to Step Back from Caregiving?
At some point you may start to realize that caregiving is becoming way too difficult and is demanding too high a price from you. It may in fact be time for you to no longer be a caregiver, even if your senior still needs help.
Make Sure You’re Clear about What You Need
When you’ve committed a great deal of your time and energy to caregiving, it can be terrifying to suddenly feel or realize that you need to no longer be a caregiver. For whatever reason, you have needs that can’t simultaneously exist with caregiving. Those might be health reasons or you might have inadvertently burned yourself out. Whatever your reasons are, though, make sure that you’re certain about what you need and that you can express them, because you’re going to need to hand over the reins.
Figure out What You’re Going to Say
If you’ve got other family members who might be able to step into caregiving in your place, that would be the ideal situation. You might worry that you’ll be judged harshly or even ostracized because of your decision. Figure out how you’re going to talk to the people or the person who you think can step into your role. Practice what you want to say until you feel more confident about how you hope the conversation will go.
Develop a Plan for Transitioning
You need to have a plan for transitioning yourself out of caregiving and someone else into that position. The best backup plan is going to be simple and one that allows you to be sure you’ve done the best job that you can with giving the new caregiver plenty of information. You’re still going to be able to spend time with your senior, it will just be in a new capacity.
If This Is What You Need, Don’t Let Guilt Sway You
Some families rely heavily on guilt to get things done. Other family members might feel comfortable with you maintaining the position you’ve held up to now. But if this is truly what you need, guilt can’t be a motivating factor for you. It can be dangerous for your mental and physical health to continue as a caregiver if you really need to step back.
You’re not bad, wrong, or defective if you need to stop being a caregiver. Caregiving is a huge responsibility and it requires a lot from you. What matters most is that your needs and your senior’s needs are met.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Caregiver Services in Eastman GA please contact the caring staff at Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services, Inc. today at 478-745-5111.
Angels of Mercy Private Homecare has been providing in-home care services since 2002 throughout the Macon and Middle Georgia Area.
Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services provides in-home care that improves the lives of the clients. Our services help them maintain the highest possible level of independent living. We provide In-home private duty care and care management services for seniors throughout the Middle Georgia area.
Our CNA (certified nursing aides), caregiver, and companion services allow our clients to age in the place where they feel most comfortable and secure - at home. Combine our Home Care Services, with our Geriatric Care Management component, and we provide the most comprehensive assistance for the Middle Georgia areas seniors.
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