Caregivers often view the holidays as a test they should be able to pass. A schedule that is already full now includes hosting, driving, gift buying, and many other holiday responsibilities. Visiting relatives who live elsewhere may offer more advice than hands-on help. The caregiver smiles for the photo and then gets to the next chore and is also the one who gets up in the middle of the night to help take care of their loved one’s needs.
A time of rest is needed but is often accompanied by feelings of guilt. Taking a day away can feel like a failure of devotion and love. It is not. A household with one exhausted caregiver is a stressed household. Respite is how the caregiver can thrive while still providing care.
What respite looks like at an Adult Day Center
The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center serves the whole family: the participant who needs oversight, health monitoring, meals, and activity, and the family member who appreciates a break from the responsibilities of caregiving. Family members enjoy comfort and peace of mind, knowing their loved one is being cared for by loving, professional staff, and that they are in a safe and secure environment. The Day Center also allows family members to take care of their own needs, enjoy times with friends, exercise, or rest.
Holidays can make the need more visible
School, church, and office calendars do not match caregiving calendars. A caregiver who works may have no extra time off. A retired spouse may have no extra stamina. Travel days, church and school events, and grocery lines all land on the same person. Adult day services is a great option to provide the regular routine, care, and socialization the loved one needs. It helps them to thrive through the holiday season, not just endure it. The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center also offers door-to-door transportation by trained staff in wheelchair-accessible vans as an option to save even more time for the caregiver. Shower options are available as well.
A note on the rest of the Adult Care Services family
Many families choose the Day Center as the next best step to keep their loved one flourishing at home longer. When the time is right to move your loved one to a residential community, Adult Care Services operates The Margaret T. Morris Center, which is northern Arizona’s only assisted living community dedicated solely to expert dementia care.
How to learn more
Call The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center at (928) 775-3563 to schedule a tour and find out why so many families depend upon their services not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year. For additional caregiver support, call Adult Care Services at (928) 771-2335.
