I don't want to be a Care GIver...what do I do?

Acting as a caregiver is an extremely demanding job—both physically and emotionally. If you have elderly loved ones, you may be called upon to help take care of them. Providing senior care services is something that many children and grandchildren do for the senior members of their family. But what are you to do if you can’t—or don’t want to—provide the services your elderly loved one requires?

Julie, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was faced with this very dilemma. After suffering a stroke, her grandfather needed home care services. Julie was a new graduate who had yet to land a job in her field. Because the rest of her family had already started their careers, they decided that Julie should step in and take care of her grandfather.

Although she loves her grandfather dearly, Julie did not want to put her career on hold. Additionally, she was not up for the emotional strain that becoming a caregiver would cause. But what could she do?

Providing senior care services is a job that should not be forced on anyone. People in the same position as Julie—people who love their family members but cannot take care of them—have options. First and foremost, though, they must realize that they are not turning their backs on their family by deciding not to provide in-home care. By recognizing that she is not up for the task, Julie is making a decision that will benefit both herself and her grandfather.

The first step in this situation is to call in elder care professionals. Aging in place is something that many seniors hope to accomplish, and these professionals will help them do just that. With personalized care plans, they will provide the skilled or non-medical services that individual patients need. As a result, seniors are able to continue living at home without their families having to make major personal sacrifices to ensure that they can continue aging in place.

But the benefits of professional caregivers do not stop there. As trained experts, they can provide a level of care that some family members cannot. Professional help is always available, so do not feel trapped if you do not want to be the caregiver.