You love your aging parents and want to be there for them as much as possible. However, there will be times that you need to run personal errands, take trips, participate in hobbies, or even just socialize with friends. While you’re attending to your personal needs, a part-time professional caregiver can be with your parents and give you peace of mind.

Here are the many ways that a part-time caregiver can help you and your loved ones:

Much-Needed Rest for Caregivers

Offering continual care for an aging loved one takes a physical, emotional and mental toll. Burnout is prevalent among those caring for senior family members, and 20% to 40% of caregivers suffer from depression. However, around 85% of family caregivers in the U.S. don’t seek assistance from respite services.

Respite caregiving services provide professional attention for your loved one in his or her home. This gives you temporary relief from your daily caregiving duties, time to heal from the effects of stress, and a break from the pressure of being on call to attend to your loved one’s needs.

Uninterrupted Care for Seniors

Many caregivers struggle to find a balance between caring for their loved ones, working full-time jobs and spending time with their families. With respite caregiving services, you don’t have to worry about who’s going to be there for your loved one while you’re focusing on other responsibilities.

You can be at work to help wrap up an important project or pack up your family for a vacation knowing your aging relative is being assisted in the comfort of his or her own home.

Time to Address Health Issues

If you keep pushing through stress and hit burnout, you won’t be able to provide adequate care for your loved one, and your own health will suffer.

Taking advantage of respite caregiving services frees you up to discuss health concerns with your doctor and do what’s necessary to get well. Meanwhile, your loved one gets attention from a caregiver who can professionally evaluate his or her physical and cognitive state and alert you to any red flags.

Supportive, Enriching Social Interactions

As much as you love each other, you and your aging relative will inevitably crave other companionship from time-to-time. Respite caregiving services gives you time to reconnect with your friends while your loved one enjoys interacting with someone new for a while.

Needing relief from your caregiving duties isn’t something about which you need to feel guilty. Utilize respite caregiving services to provide your loved one with high-quality care while you focus on resting and recharging so that you can return to your role feeling refreshed.