Caregiving is a highly stressful job. Whether it is caring for your aging parents, an injured loved one, or if it’s home care after surgery. Hands-on caregivers go through a great deal of physical and emotional stress. After a while, there comes a time when you can no longer cope with the stress, and it is at that point that you decide to quit.
However, telling other family members that you can no longer care for a member of the family is very difficult. Your family members have come to rely on you for taking care of this person, and the sudden departure may come as a surprise. That said, with careful planning and using the right words, it is possible to make a seamless transition to using a home care agency or service.
Start By Talking About Why You Can No Longer Offer Home Care After Surgery
You will want to outline all the reasons why you no longer want to be the primary caregiver for the person. Think about all the most important reasons. Make sure that you can distill and explain the thought process to the people you love.
Here are a few reasons why you might not want to provide hands-on caregiving:
- You don’t have the available time you once did. You might have other responsibilities that need your time and attention. Responsibilities like a sick child, going back to school, additional hours at work. Regardless of the reason, make sure you explain those responsibilities fully.
- If offering home care after surgery for a loved one is causing you stress, it is going to impact your health negatively. So, instead of continuing to suffer or exacerbating health issues that will soon cause you bigger problems, tell your family members what is happening. Tell them you are experiencing health issues that you must tend to and that the caregiving is making those health issues worse.
- It is having an impact on your finances. After all, being a primary caregiver is or may be impacting your employment and consequently your finances. Having to leave work early or not having the energy to work effectively may result in you not being able to meet work targets, which can affect your wages. Then, there are the additional expenses brought on by the need to replenish first aid supplies, food, drink, and other incidentals.
You Might Want to Speak With Other Family Members First
Now, before you get into a discussion with the person you are caring for, you might want to discuss it with other members of the family. Start with people who are likely to agree with you. You will be able to get their support when you approach the other family members – and of course, the person you are caring for. They can also help you refine the message so your other family members can understand your need to step back and to stop being the primary caregiver.
Make Alternate Caregiving Arrangements
If you can’t provide home help after surgery, then who can? You can hire a home care professional to take your place. Do some research to find the best person for the job. You can contact a hospital, rehab center, or short/long term care facility for recommendations. You will want to contact services and agencies that specialize in providing home care for adults. When you find the right person, have them work alongside you for a few days until they fully transition into the role. Doing this makes it easier for the person being cared for to handle the change while putting your mind at ease that you have chosen the right person for the job.
Are you a caregiver? Have you taken advantage of a having homecare professional take your place for a while or permanently?
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