For so many family caregivers, asking for help is incredibly difficult to do. That means that they might put off solutions like enlisting respite care so they can take time away, as well. Figuring out how to get more practice asking for help can be among the first steps in starting to regularly take time away to rest.
Take Smaller Periods of Respite
When it’s difficult to ask for help, smaller periods of respite can help quite a bit. Instead of taking an entire afternoon or day off, taking just an hour or even half an hour away can help. These smaller respite periods can help family caregivers feel more comfortable letting someone else be in charge for a little while. Being so in charge all the time is a big responsibility that is tough to relax about.
Prepare for Respite Time
Anything that seems haphazard can be more difficult to feel comfortable with, and that’s also true for letting home care providers provide respite coverage. Preparing well for these times can reduce that sense of the unknown. Including information about activities seniors enjoy and tasks they may need help managing is a good start. It also helps for family caregivers to know what they’re going to do with time away, like going to a doctor’s appointment or taking a nap.
Keep a Journal
It’s a lot easier to accept help when family caregivers understand why they’re having trouble in the first place. Journaling allows people to explore their emotions and work through those feelings more thoroughly. A journal can also serve as a record of how far family caregivers have come. In the beginning, respite care might have been difficult to accept, and revisiting those times when it’s easier to take time away can show progress.
Set Up a Consistent Schedule
When family caregivers set up a consistent respite schedule, it starts to get easier to take that time away. At first, that schedule might only include an hour or two a week. But over time, family caregivers may find it easier to increase respite time. One half-hour period of respite can gradually grow to an entire afternoon, which allows family caregivers to get more rest.
Practice Saying Yes to Help
One of the reasons family caregivers have a tough time accepting help is because they may not get a lot of offers of assistance. Respite care is different because this is something that family caregivers can seek out. Saying yes to the offers they do get can help them to reframe their immediate reactions to assistance and get better at accepting it any time it’s offered.
Respite care offers family caregivers and seniors some excellent opportunities for rest and additional companionship, respectively. When it’s difficult for family caregivers to accept assistance and take a break, that’s typically when they most need to have that experience. Planning for respite and gradually increasing the time they take away can help family caregivers get more comfortable being able to rely on assistance when they get a chance to accept it.
