How To Get Over The Guilt Of Hiring A Senior Caregiver Instead Of Doing It Yourself
Posted on: 27 September 2018
Hiring a senior caregiver could easily top any child's list of hardest decision he or she has to make. Oftentimes, it is not the financial consideration that strains you the most. It is the emotional side of senior care that is the most difficult to handle. You may feel guilty for hiring a senior caregiver instead of doing it yourself. You might feel afraid that you're doing it wrong. You're afraid that family members and other people are judging you. With so many negative thoughts filling your head, you need to get over this guilt.
Acknowledge Your Thoughts and Feelings
First, you need to acknowledge and accept your thoughts and feelings. Whether you've become a caregiver for a while before hiring a professional senior caregiver or not, or whether you've done it willingly or by default, planned or sudden, you must understand that it's perfectly normal to feel guilty. Regardless of the situation, you should remember that your thoughts are not only allowed, but also important and valid. Secondly, acknowledging your feelings also require tracing the source of guilt that you're feeling. Is it out of fear of being judged that you've failed as a child? Is someone guilt-tripping you? Or are you afraid that your decision might not be the best for your parent?
Appreciate the Benefits
Another step that you can do to ease feeling guilty is to identify and appreciate the benefits of hiring a senior caregiver. Did your parent's overall health improve in the process? Has your physical health improved too? Do you have more time for your work, children, and husband? Surely, hiring a senior caregiver from a place like Tender Care, Inc has resulted in many positive things in your life. Focusing on your small victories can help to relieve guilt.
Talk it Out
After you've acknowledged your feelings, processed your thoughts, and realized the benefits of hiring a senior caregiver, it's time to talk it out. Talk to your parent, your siblings, and other relatives. Tell them about your anxieties. Describe how you feel. However, you also need to discuss the benefits you, your parent, and your family have gained from senior care. With this in mind, you also have to express certainty in your decision. Exude genuine confidence that you've done the best for your parent, your family, and yourself.
Even if you'll end up not getting the affirmation that you need from other people, knowing in yourself that you've made the right decision should set you free from this guilt.
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