We all want to help our loved ones.
To give them care and support when they need it. To help them live their best and happiest lives.
We don’t do it for the money, or for the reward. We do it because we want to give them the same kindness they gave us for all our lives.
And yet, the question begs to be asked: to what extent?
To what extent do we sacrifice our own lives to help those around us? When and how much should we give to others when it means taking away from ourselves?
Present and Future Consequences
When people think of the stress of caregiving, they often think about the present time. That caregiving only affects them in the moment, and they have the rest of their lives to live as they want.
Unfortunately, that’s not so.
Recent studies have shown that those who caregive for free (i.e. family members who act as caregivers for loved ones) are more likely to have smaller retirement savings.
And, even more so for single women who are unpaid caregivers.
Now, you may not think this is such a big deal. That’s it’s only a minor setback. But the truth is, that having a good savings for retirement is so important, and really effects the entirety of your life- present and future. Because, the pace at which you are able to save money now, affects when you can stop working and begin your retired years later.
If you save slower, you’ll have to work for longer.
If you save faster, you’ll get to work for less.
And this matters, because when you go into retirement, you’re not just doing it so you can laze away the rest of your days. Retirement years are so that you can live life to its fullest. So that you have time to be with your loved ones. So that you can see the world, do the things you’ve always wanted, and bond with those around you.
So, giving up your time now for caregiving means giving up your years now and in the future.
A Better Alternative – At-home care
Obviously, you don’t want to just leave your loved ones to fend for themselves.
But, you also can’t keep living a life you resent.
Luckily, there’s an alternative. A happy medium that comes in the form of at-home care.
When you hire a professional caregiver, you’re paying a professional aid to come to your home and give your loved ones what they need- emotionally, physically, and medically. You’re not leaving your loved ones or giving up on them. You’re finding another way to help them. A way that also gives you a chance to live your own life.
And though you may not want to admit it, a professional caregiver may be the better help for your loved one. Because, a professional will not only know what your senior needs, but will also be able to do something about those needs.
Consider a better life for you and your loved senior with a professional caregiver.
