Information to help family caregivers understand how domiciliary works and how it could help with the many challenges of the role.
There are many family caregivers in the UK, in fact, 1 in 10 people are caregivers. That number is thought to be much higher as many caregivers do not label themselves as such, so many are not accounted for.
Being a family caregiver is a valued position, and for the person you are caring for, it means the world. However, it can be a destructive position if you’re not careful. Statistics show that 84% of carers have seen caring have a negative effect on their health and shockingly, there is a 23 percent increased risk of a stroke for spousal caregivers.
Being a carer can have a detrimental effect on your health if you do not take care of yourself. It is natural to feel guilty taking any time for yourself, and allowing anybody to help you but it is essential you do get as much support and help as is possible in order to be as happy and healthy, and to be the best carer you can be to your loved one.
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Domiciliary Care Can Help You
Domiciliary care is provided to a person in their own home (or within your home if your loved one lives with you). A professional carer from a live-in care provider comes into your home and provides you with the support you need to relieve you of your caring position for a few hours. The same help can be arranged for a day, a weekend, a week or longer depending on your needs. Lots of people arrange this kind of help for a morning or afternoon once a week, or once a fortnight to have some ‘me time’ for a coffee with a friend or, to run some errands.
The Importance Of Caregiver Timeout
Although a few hours might not seem like long to any person who isn’t in your position, a few hours knowing your loved one is safely taken care of means the world to you. A few hours to be indulgent, to clear your head, or just get a rest. Just those few hours of relief can help prevent caregiver burnout, ensuring you are able to continue being a fantastic carer for your loved one.
Domiciliary Care Tailored To Your Needs
Domiciliary care provided by home care services is tailored to your needs. A carer will be able to provide the care your loved one needs, whether it is help with washing, getting dressed, feeding, or medication administering. Specialist care is also something you can arrange, perhaps for dementia care or post stroke support. When and how you use domiciliary care services is also tailored to you.
A carer can come to work alongside you at regular intervals and can even live in the home with you as a live-in carer. A live-in carer will be able to do the bulk of the caring whilst you focus on running your household, or working. They may also be helpful if you are struggling with the physical side of caring, or if your loved one is struggling with a condition like dementia. You can use domiciliary care services to suit your needs, helping you to be the best family caregiver you can be.
Would You Like To Arrange Domiciliary Care?
If you are interested in arranging domiciliary care for your loved one, the first step is speaking to your GP and to your social services contact. You will need a care assessment to figure out if you are entitled to help from the NHS. Once you have that information you can take the next steps needed to arrange domiciliary care in your home. In the meantime, you may also like to take a look at The Live-in Care Hub for more information about live-in care.
