When caring becomes too much: 4 tell-tale signs you need a break

When you care for an ageing family member, we understand it can be difficult to trust their care to someone else. But taking a break and caring for your needs is important in many ways. 

Respite care allows you to take a break and get on top of things while your loved one is cared for by professionals. Whether you need a holiday, have work commitments or just want to relax, respite care is great for you and the person you care for. 

If you’re unsure if respite care will benefit you and your family, here are a few tell-tale signs you might need respite.

Emotional exhaustion

Taking care of a loved one takes a lot of emotional energy, so it’s common to feel a little emotionally drained once in a while. If you’re emotionally exhausted, you might find yourself feeling irritable, moody and stressed. 

During times of emotional exhaustion, you may also feel anxiety, a decreased sense of accomplishment, a lack of motivation and hopelessness. 

Physical exhaustion

If you’re finding it difficult to carry out everyday tasks, you may be experiencing physical exhaustion. Taking care of another person, as well as yourself and other family members, can take a toll on your physical well-being and leave you feeling drained and tired. 

When you’re physically exhausted you may feel lethargic, have insomnia, experience muscle aches and pains, have digestive issues and a decreased immune system. 

Less patience

Being a carer takes a great deal of commitment and dedication, but even the most patient will reach a point where you need a break. If you have less patience and feel irritable or frustrated, it might be time to take a step away. 

Loneliness and isolation 

When you’re spending a significant amount of time caring for a loved one, you may start to feel lonely and isolated. This can be difficult if you are a social person who enjoys spending time with others. If you begin to feel isolated and lonely, this may be a sign that you need to take a break to spend time with your family and friends. 

Experiencing any of these signs may indicate that you will benefit from a break away from your caring duties. During this time, you can practise self-care and look after your physical and mental well-being. You can rest and recharge to continue providing the best care for your loved one. 

Respite care at HillView Care

HillView Care offers respite care on the Gold Coast to help families who need to take a break from caring for a loved family member. Our caring team is compassionate and knows how to make our respite care residents feel right at home. 

We provide hotel-style living and premium respite care for a few days or even weeks at a time. If you’re looking for somewhere your loved one can rest and recover after being in the hospital, HillView Care respite is also a great option. 

While staying in respite, your family members will have access to all the same facilities as our permanent residents and can keep as busy or quiet as they like. They’ll receive beautiful home-cooked meals by our on-site chefs and 24/7 medical care.

Want to know more about our respite care on the Gold Coast? Call us on 07 5559 3222 or book a tour around our Merrimac or Ashmore residential aged care homes.