Being a caregiver is rewarding but often exhausting. If you are the friend or loved one of an individual in need of home health care in Harrisburg, PA, trying to go it alone, it’s a good idea to do a self-check from time to time. After all, you cannot help others when you are drained and out of sorts. So, how are YOU?

The American Medical Association created a measuring tool. Physicians use it to assess anxiety and stress among family caregivers. There are yes and no questions. Depending on the results, the physician may suggest in-home health care services that AmeriBest proudly provides in Harrisburg, PA.

An example question would be, “During the past week, have you felt completely overwhelmed?” That inquiry could be followed by, “Have you felt torn between your family, work, and caring for your loved one?” The idea is to get a general feel of the caregiver’s stress levels. When the rankings are particularly high, it’s worth looking for support, including getting in touch with a professional aide who takes some of the work off your hands. At AmeriBest Home Care, we take pride in our staff’s ability to effectively work with a wide range of people.

AmeriBest Home Care

At first, you might feel hesitant about both the assessment and reaching out to a professional service. That’s perfectly normal. Family caregivers represent a majority of support for aging loved ones with chronic problems or functionality limits. We all want to be able to help successfully, feeling that, as a family, we’re best suited to knowing and meeting our loved one’s requirements.

But there are challenges to providing help to your loved one. You play many roles beyond your family station (son, daughter, cousin, etc.). You are the cook, maid, nurse, and driver, just to name a few. With all that responsibility, it’s easy to lose sight of your own needs. They fall into a backdrop of activity until a day arrives when you’re sick, worn out, frustrated, and ready to give up. It’s a terrible moment for anyone.

Remember, you are “only human.” There are limits as to what each of us can handle. This is why so many families turn to agencies like AmeriBest Home Health Care of Harrisburg, PA. They want a trustworthy company with high professional standards. Our staff receives ongoing training to keep them informed of “best practices” in the ever-changing home caregiving industry.

More importantly, our aides focus on the family as a unit. While they come to your home to help your loved one, the entire household has input on many matters, including answering questions about the individual’s favorite foods, tv shows, and activities. The integrated social nature of proficient caregiving is incredibly important. Depression and anxiety can run high in families who have done everything alone.