Obstacles to Family Care-Giving and How to Overcome Them

There may come a time when your significant other or parents will depend on you to take care of them for any number of reasons. Whether they suffer from Alzheimer’s, had a stroke or been diagnosed with cancer; the fact of the matter is they will need someone to look after them. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that more than 15 million adults currently provide care to relatives in the U.S.

The role of caregiver comes with many responsibilities, but it also may have some hidden consequences. Queen City Elder Care in Cincinnati is here to break down the challenges of family care-giving and how to cope with them.

Although taking care of your loved one can be quite rewarding, it’s also emotionally demanding and you may crave more quality time with them. You can turn to private duty care to help with some of these responsibilities and allow yourselves that precious bonding experience.

Caring for your elderly loved one can also impact your career and income. Some people with a full time career and hectic schedule of their own find that using a private duty company for even a few hours a week can help alleviate the stress of 24/7 care-giving. The American Alzheimer’s Association collected data that showed the effects of care-giving on one’s career. Some of these include: going from full-time to part-time, loss of job benefits, having to take a leave of absence or turn down a job promotion due to their responsibly of taking care of their loved one.

In addition to loss of quality time and an impact on your finances, caring for your family member could also lead to your own health problems.  The Journal of the American Medical Association performed a study called “Caregiving as a Risk Factor: The Caregiver Health Effects Study” which discussed how elderly people that are feeling stressed as a result of caring for a spouse with a chronic illness have a 63% higher mortality rate.

When it comes time to find care for your loved one, know your options. Turning to a private duty company to share in the responsibilities can be beneficial to you as well as to your loved one.

We want to hear from you! Tell us about your experiences with family care-giving in the comments below.