With the cold Canadian weather comes the desire to escape the snow and travel someplace warm. A trip to the Caribbean or the beaches of Spain sounds amazing right about now! With the desire to escape the frigid temperatures also comes the accompanying guilt of leaving your senior loved one on their own.
Who will look after them? How will they get to their appointments or remember to take their medication on time? The responsibility people feel toward their loved ones can often inhibit their travel plans—but you deserve a break.
You shouldn’t let your caregiving responsibilities hold you back from taking a vacation this winter. Instead, choose a caregiving option that makes both you and your senior loved one comfortable—there are three different options for you to consider.
Friends or Family Members
Do you share caregiving responsibilities? If so, depending on the other caregiver’s availability to manage the responsibilities, this may be the best option as they are already familiar with your loved one’s daily routines.
If your loved one is fairly independent, the caregiving responsibilities won’t be overwhelming for someone else to take over while you’re away. Simply popping by on a daily basis, helping them with any errands they need, and providing engaging conversation will likely be sufficient until your return.
If your loved one requires more than just the basic care, this may be too much of a burden to ask someone else to manage. If your friends and relatives are too busy, live too far away, or are uncomfortable being left in charge of caregiving responsibilities, hired care may be required.
In-Home Care
Just because you’re away and your friends and family can’t assist your senior loved one doesn’t mean you need to inconvenience them by making them leave their home. There are a variety of different levels of care available from an in-home caregiver. Whether your loved one needs an hour visit every day or 24/7 care, there are affordable, highly skilled caregivers available in your area.
An in-home caregiver can take on a variety of different caregiver responsibilities including home health care, companion care, and personal care. Every need of your elderly loved one will be met by their caregiver from meal preparation to pet assistance, so you can rest easy knowing your loved one is being looked after by a trained professional.
If your loved one already uses a daily caregiver, consider asking them if they will take on more time while you’re away. This way, your loved one will be even more comfortable with the arrangement.
Out-of-Home Care
If you’re truly uncomfortable with leaving your loved one in their home without your supervision, you always have the option of renting a room at a retirement or nursing home facility. With this option, your senior loved one will not have to worry about any tasks relating to their home or dietary habits while you’re away. This also guarantees that if there was ever an accident, your loved one would receive the help they need immediately.
Each out-of-home care facility has different procedures for how they rent out their rooms. Before you plan your vacation, ensure you’ve called and compared the different facilities in your area to find the best option for your senior loved one.
Vacation for All!
Just because you’re going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to leave your senior loved one behind! There are many options that can allow you to bring all your loved ones along for the trip. Just make sure you’ve made the proper preparations and you’re comfortable maintaining caregiving responsibilities on your holiday.
Whichever option you think is best, there is a way for you to enjoy your holiday knowing your loved one is being looked after.
