My name's Marcy. I’m forty-two years old, single, and live alone. I had knee surgery six months ago, and I didn’t plan to have a professional help me after surgery. What a mistake! I made it a total of one day home alone before calling in a home health care professional. I had family and friends who were available to help, and they were great when it came to cooking and cleaning. However, when it came to helping with personal hygiene, caring for my surgery site, and helping me move, I needed more than family and friends. I’m going to share more about my home health care experience. I hope you find what I share to be helpful.
Home Health Care after Surgery
Caring For A Loved One With Dementia? Don't Forget That You Need Some Respite
Ngoc Volkers
It's actually difficult to count the number of words in a given language, but it's generally accepted that English has the most words. This is why you can encounter numerous words with the same meaning. When you consider that respite is another word for rest, it gives you an idea of what respite care actually is. When you're the primary caregiver for a loved one affected by dementia, you shouldn't overlook the importance of respite for yourself.
An Ongoing Commitment
Dementia is a progressive illness, and when you commit to having a loved one with the condition live with you, you must be prepared for the fact that your commitment will gradually be scaled up as their dementia worsens. It will impact your leisure time and social life, as well as your working life. While you will have been mentally preparing yourself for this, it's not as though you can realistically expect yourself to be constantly committed, 24 hours per day, each and every day. Sometimes you will need a few days to yourself, even if just for a long weekend.
Finding a Respite Care Service
There are many providers who offer respite care services, allowing you to take a short vacation. You could ask your loved one's physician for a recommendation. Alternatively, you might want to reach out to your local dementia support associations for their suggestions. Check to see if your loved one's medical insurance has any provisions for respite care, but this will depend on the policy. Be sure to confirm that the chosen provider has a valid license to operate in your state, along with insurance. To minimize the disruption to your loved one's routine, you may prefer a home health aide. They can assist your loved one with their daily care, along with some domestic tasks required for this daily care.
Consider a Test Run
No matter the strength of their credentials and experience, the thought of leaving your loved one with a home health aide might be a bit unsettling. Perhaps everybody should be eased into the process. Arrange for the aide to spend an afternoon with your loved one, essentially as a test run. You can take the time to meet a friend, or do something outside of the house, while the aide takes care of things at home. This just gives everyone a chance to get to know each other, while identifying any key issues that might arise before your short vacation.
You must never underestimate the importance of a brief respite, and the wonderful benefits it can have for your ability to care for your loved one. And the way to enjoy that respite with full peace of mind is to be sure that your loved one is receiving top-notch care while you're enjoying yourself.
Contact a local respite care service to learn more about your options.
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