If you have an elderly parent who is no longer able to live on their own or fully take care of themselves, you may have moved them into your home so that you can help and keep an eye on them. However, if you are doing most of the work yourself, you may be having difficulty keeping up with their needs while trying to take care of your own. If so, look for the following signs that it's time to seek help with caring for your elderly parent in your home.
1. You Are Physically Unable to Perform Certain Tasks
One sign that you may need help with taking care of your parent is that you cannot physically perform certain tasks. This is especially true if your loved one's physical or mental capabilities are diminishing.
When they first moved into your house, you may have had no problems with helping them get up to go to the bathroom or assist them with their bath and other personal hygiene needs. However, if they require more assistance with getting out of bed, or if they have become bedbound, you may find that you are not strong enough to lift, turn, or carry them without fear of them falling.
2. You Start Experiencing Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout
Besides your own physical limitations, another sign that you should seek out help with taking care of your loved one is when you start experiencing symptoms of caregiver burnout. Especially if you are trying to take care of most of your parent's needs while balancing work and family, you may be pushing yourself to the point of mental and emotional exhaustion.
Even though you love your parent, you may start feeling resentment toward having to spend most of your free time taking care of them. You may start becoming irritable and lashing out, which are signs that you are becoming worn out and may need a break.
When you start getting burned out, you may also start to experience anxiety and depression. Since you may be neglecting your own needs, you may start feeling weaker or find that you are sick more often. If you get to this point, it is time to ask for help.
If you feel that you can no longer fully care for your elderly parent but you still want to keep them in your home, there is help available to you from a company like Home Helpers Dallas. For more information about getting help with taking care of your parent, contact an in-home senior care service to discuss your available options.
Share1 May 2019
When my grandparents were both diagnosed with cancer due to radon in their home, I knew that we were going to be spending a lot of time helping them out. We started focusing on different ways to help them out, but it was really challenging to find the time to care for them. We realized that we needed help, so we started looking for home health care businesses who could come out to help. We found an excellent company who could help, and they were amazing to work with. They made our grandparents feel comfortable and happy each day, and it meant the world to us. Check out this blog for great information on home health care.
