Parenting is a rewarding task, but it’s not without its challenges. For those parents and caregivers with medically challenged children or children with special needs, those challenges are significantly increased. Between medical visits, therapy appointments, and health concerns, there are many reasons parents of special needs children may feel overwhelmed and stressed. Fortunately, in-home care can help!
What is in-home care?
An option for parents who need some help, in-home care is not a medical service. Rather, it is a service that provides assistance to alleviate stress and help parents take a break from the constant care required by their child. In-home caregivers offer parents the opportunity to focus on other children and family members, get some work done, or take some time for themselves. Caregivers take on some of the responsibility, to keep parents from being overwhelmed both mentally and physically, so that they can keep taking care of their children.What do in-home care providers offer parents or caregivers?
- They provide respite care. Having an in-home care provider at the house can give parents the time to take a break. Parents can use the time doing whatever they need to do, whether that’s caring for another family member, running errands, or practicing self-care. Use the time to engage in a hobby, get a massage, or grab a cup of coffee with a friend! Respite care gives you the time to take care of yourself so that you can be refreshed and renewed when you go back to caring for your child.
- They help with housekeeping. By performing light housekeeping services, like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, or dusting, an in-home care provider takes those tasks off the parents’ to-do list.
- They run errands. It can be extremely helpful to have someone to run errands when you have a special needs child. It prevents you from having to load the kids into the car when you need to pick up a prescription or grab something for dinner.
What do in-home care providers offer children with special needs?
- They help children stay safe. Children with special needs often cannot be left alone. In-home caregivers offer personalized care, making sure your child is safe while helping to oversee the child’s activities. A trained caregiver can also help assist children and teenagers who have mobility issues, empowering them to be more independent.
- They help monitor behavior and health. Observation is an important part of caring for children with medical issues and developmental disabilities. An experienced caregiver can observe a child’s condition and monitor behavior to help assess the level of support needed.
- They help children prepare for later life. A professional in-home care provider can help support children during their developmental years, encouraging them and helping them to prepare for later independence. Additionally, when a caregiver is helping to take care of a child’s physical and environmental well-being, it frees the family to meet the child’s emotional and mental needs.