It’s Okay to Think About Your Needs and Not Just an Aging Parent’s, and In-Home Care Helps You Do That Without Guilt

The morning sun cuts through the blinds. You didn’t sleep well last night, but that’s nothing new. You haven’t been sleeping well for months, maybe even years. In fact, you can’t even remember the last time you had a good night’s rest. Yet, here you are, clinging to the last moments before you have to crawl out of bed and get going with your day.

You have been taking on so many responsibilities these past months. You have your career, you might be raising teenagers, and you are looking after your elderly mother. Ever since your father passed away, you have been concerned about her. Then, she faced a medical crisis and even though she didn’t want to move in with you, you knew she needed help. You didn’t think about in-home care; you thought this was your responsibility only.

In times like this, though, you wonder if professional in-home care would be the better option, but every time you think about it you feel guilty. Let us be clear about something: you should not. You should not feel guilty for thinking about in-home care from a professional, experienced provider.

Why in-home care from an agency?

First, it’s okay to think about your needs. You have them. In fact, if you are like the average family caregiver in the United States, you are probably in your mid to late 40s, possibly your early or mid-50s, female, and have numerous other responsibilities, the least of which likely involves raising children (Forbes). Even if you don’t have kids or work a full-time job, you are taking on an incredible responsibility when you act as a caregiver.

It’s not something you can simply turn off when you leave the job to go home. You are constantly worried about your mother, father, grandparent, or other loved one who depends on you. You know that their strength is not what it used to be. You see her clutching at her bed when she gets up or walking much slower than she used to.

You notice how difficult it is for her to get up from the chair in the kitchen to go back to bed. Your thoughts probably involve whether she is safe in bed now or if she had to get up in the middle night to use the bathroom, slipped, and fell, and is now waiting and hoping for you to arrive as soon as possible.

But you have needs, too. You haven’t spent time focusing on yourself in months. When was the last time you saw your friends or spent any quality time with your partner or spouse?

Second, there’s only so much stress a person can deal with. Stress doesn’t just affect your mental health; it will impact your physical health. So, while you are running around, chasing your proverbial tail to get everything done during the day just so you can be the right support your elderly mother needs, your health is declining.

You may not feel it at the moment, but it is. If you are stressed, it is negatively affecting your health. You have to deal with that reality sooner or later. If you don’t deal with it now, you will have to deal with it in time.

What might that mean? An increased risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and other serious health issues. If that happens, then what? Who is going to look after you and your aging mother?

Turn to in-home care now.

It’s okay. You can still support your mother. You can still be there for her at this delicate time in her life. And you can also get support to help you along this journey. Don’t try to do everything yourself; professional in-home care support services are just a phone call or a click away.

If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care in Mooresville, NC, contact the caring professionals at TenderHearted Home Care today. Call us at (704) 612-4132