When you are the caregiver for an individual, the stress of the day to day work is immense. Often the caregiver gets sick because of the mental and physical fatigue that comes with this job day in and day out. The need for time away is essential for the caregiver as well as the person receiving the care, but what is the best way to go about it?
First, as the caregiver, give yourself permission to take time off. It is a rare job that does not allow time away from work for rest and recuperation. Caregiving is a job and it often a twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year position. No one is capable of that level of function in the long term. You deserve time away and need to take it.
Choose a day in the future and stick with it. Plan the time away like you would a vacation. Define a destination and ask for others to help with the actual planning. Even if the vacation is a hotel room a few miles from your home, it is a vacation and break from your job.
Once the time frame for your time away has been defined, plan for the care of your loved one. There are many options available. Depending on the length of time you will be gone, some options might include:
You are not the only one capable of caring for your loved one. Because someone else does it differently than you, does not mean it will be a disaster. Give yourself the break that you deserve. If you do not, who will care for your loved one when you get ill and cannot continue in your caregiving role.
It is a hard decision, but a necessary one. Ask for help and accept the help that is offered.
If you would like to plan a break but are not sure where to start, contact me for assistance.