Family Caregivers Need a Vacation Too - Let
Right at Home of Central New Jersey Help You!
The right people, doing the right things,
the right way, for the right reasons.
Right at Home.
Americans have been described as "vacation deprived," tied only with workers from Japan and Thailand in taking the fewest number of vacation days.
Many workers say they simply can't take days off from work. They say no one can fill in for them, or they fear that taking time off will affect their careers. Now, add family caregiving responsibilities to the mix! Workers who also are providing care for an elderly or disabled love one often use up all their vacation time — a day here, a day there, taking their loved one to the doctor or helping with paperwork and hands-on care.
If you're a family caregiver, the obstacles to taking a vacation might seem insurmountable. But it's worthwhile to brainstorm ways to overcome these obstacles, because many studies reveal the health benefits of vacationing.
Here are challenges that keep caregivers from taking a vacation, and ways to overcome those challenges:
- Money. The budget can be tight for family caregivers. The AARP reports that caregivers spend an average of $7,000 per year caring for their loved one, and many have cut back on their paid work hours or even left work entirely. But taking a vacation need not be terribly expensive. Look for discounts and travel packages. Can out-of-town friends and family host you or have an available vacation home or timeshare? Or try a "staycation" and spend a weekend at a local spa or play tourist in your own town by checking out local attractions.
- Their loved ones' care needs. If you worry about how your loved one would be safe and cared for while you're gone, there are options. Talk to friends and family and ask them to step in while you’re gone. Or check out respite care. Many retirement communities, assisted living facilities and nursing homes offer short-term stays. Even better, check out professional in-home care services from Right at Home of Central New Jersey. We can provide supervision and assistance with personal care, meal preparation, medication reminders, even housekeeping — in other words, all the things you do and more.
- Time. Maybe you use all your vacation days providing care for your loved one. If this is the case, consider that hiring in-home care year-round could free up some of those days. Whether it's for a week or on an ongoing basis, talk to other family members about sharing the cost of home care. They may not realize all that you do or how much you spend. They may be willing to share the cost, happy that it's a way they can do their part.
- Guilt. If the person you care for is your spouse or a parent who relies on you alone for care, you might think that going away for a week will be very hard for them. Remind your loved one (and yourself) that taking some time off is good for your health — and for your relationship.
- Long-distance caregiving. If you are one of the millions of caregivers coordinating the care of loved ones from afar, you probably use most of your vacation time visiting them. If your loved one's condition makes it possible, travel with them to a pleasant vacation destination. Or, if you're traveling to visit a senior loved one, schedule a few extra days just for yourself somewhere nearby. (Feeling guilty? Reread the item above this one!)
Going on vacation is so important. You will return refreshed, with your emotional batteries recharged — making you a better employee and certainly a better caregiver for your loved one.
Please call us today to discover how in-home care from Right at Home of Central New Jersey can help you or your family member! We can provide care from a few hours a day a few days a week to overnight shifts to live-in care. We will partner with you to come up with the best plan for your family and always be available 24/7 to help. We care for your family as we would for our own!
Right at Home, Inc. is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those we serve. We fulfill that mission through a dedicated network of locally owned providers of in home care services.
About Right at Home of Central New Jersey – Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of Central New Jersey office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties.
For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey at
Reprinted and excerpted with permission from Caring Right at Home eNewsletter, www.caringnews.com . Copyright, 2019, IlluminAge Communication Partners.
