Adult Day Care: The Break That Family Caregivers Need

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happy senior woman relaxing and breathing fresh air in sunlight in outdoors park

For stressed family caregivers, adult day care could be a game changer.

These days it feels like we are all stretched beyond our capacity. For members of the sandwich generation who shoulder the responsibility of working and caring for children and older loved ones, that stretched feeling often seems on the verge of snapping.

Being a caregiver is a fulltime job already, but many family care providers also work outside the home, adding to their already heavy load. Additionally, older caregivers — those caring for an aging spouse or adult child with special needs — face similar stress and the potential caregiver burnout from their daily caregiving duties.

The stressful nature of the pandemic brought the importance of slowing down and self-care to the forefront of our national conversation. And we’ve all heard the old adage that we need to put on our own oxygen mask before helping others with theirs. But when you have so many responsibilities on your plate, how can you possibly find the time to put your own mask on?

What Are the Effects of Caregiving on a Person’s Health?

An all-too-common scenario is that a family member starts caring for an aging loved one, only to end up in the hospital themselves. In fact, research shows that caregiving has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the caregiver. According to the CDC, caregiving has been associated with:

  • Increased anxiety and depression
  • A decline in physical health
  • Increased usage of psychoactive medications
  • Weakened immune system
  • A higher risk of premature death
  • And more

Given these risks, it is imperative for family caregivers to get help in order to better care for themselves as well as their loved ones. Adult day care is an excellent solution that allows caregivers to have a daily break while ensuring their loved ones receive the care they need.

Adult day care provides seniors and those with medical or developmental disabilities a safe and enriching place to socialize and receive care. There is also evidence that adult day care improves quality of life for both the client and the family caregiver. One study from The Gerontologist demonstrated that adult day care provided health-related, social, psychological and behavioral benefits for clients. Another study found that people with dementia and their caregivers had improved sleep on the nights before the patients attended an adult day care center.

At Innovative Senior Solutions, we provide adult day care services in convenient, home-like locations. Our clients can expect to engage in a variety of fun activities, like:

  • Games
  • Exercise
  • Engaging discussions
  • Fun outings in the local community
  • Arts and crafts
  • Memory activities
  • Music
  • Movies and shows
  • Gardening and other hobbies
  • And more

Our convenient facilities are staffed by experienced caregivers and nurses who are on hand to provide supervision and assistance with medical needs as needed. If you are a family caregiver who is in need of a practical care solution that can provide benefits for both you and you loved one, we’d love to talk to you more about our adult day care services. Give us a call today at 866-409-0582 for more information or to schedule a tour of our centers.

Senior Care Conversation Starters for Reluctant Seniors

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professional home care Albany GA

Learn home care conversation starter tips from Innovative Senior Solutions.

It often begins with the feeling that something just isn’t quite right; small but noticeable signs that a senior loved one may require some assistance to maintain safety at home. She may seem a bit more forgetful, or is walking more slowly and cautiously. Perhaps you’ve reached into the fridge for a drink and noticed old, expired food – or limited food choices that could indicate a problem with grocery shopping or meal preparation. Read more

Caring for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver

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home care cordele ga Alzheimer's caregiver looking sad Alzheimer’s disease: hearing that diagnosis for a senior loved one can be life-changing for both the senior and his or her family. While the disease progresses uniquely for each individual, there are some commonalities, such as behavioral issues, that are difficult to manage and can cause family members an unprecedented level of stress.

As the disease progresses through the typical stages, here are some of the main concerns that are often experienced with each:

  • Mild Stage: Wandering, repetitive speech, slowness in completing tasks, problems with tasks such as managing money
  • Moderate Stage: More pronounced memory, language, and reasoning issues, confusion, difficulty recognizing familiar friends and family and completing multi-step tasks
  • Severe Stage: Loss of communication abilities, full dependence on others

So what does this mean for the family members providing dementia care? Sadly, caregiver stress is all too common when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, and effectively managing that stress to avoid burnout is crucial. These tips can help:

  • Seek out resources. Your local Alzheimer’s Association is a great resource for family’s struggling through the disease. Local senior centers, online and in-person support groups, family and friends can also help provide a network of support.
  • Set aside time for self-care. The best way to care for others is to make sure you’re caring for yourself. Taking time to exercise, engage in relaxing and enjoyable activities, and get plenty of sleep will help restore the patience and compassion needed to care for your loved one.
  • Partner with an expert. Finding a professional senior care company that specializes in Alzheimer’s and dementia care can help by providing safe, reliable respite care, including during the overnight hours, which can be especially difficult.

It’s important to keep in mind that no one can do it all alone. Guilt and other emotions may come into play that make it difficult to accept assistance, but for both the senior’s and your own wellbeing, reaching out to others can make all the difference in the world.

For more resources and for trusted, expert Alzheimer’s disease care, provided right in the comfort of your loved one’s home, or in one of adult day health centers or personal care home, contact Georgia’s top rated senior care team, Innovative Senior Solutions, at 866-928-3670. Whether it’s just a few hours a day of respite care, or full-time, around-the-clock dementia care, we’re the home care Cordele GA agency here with the individualized care to enhance quality of life for your senior loved one – whenever you need us.