Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month: Take Care of Yourself During Allergy Season
Over 50 million Americans experience allergies every year. In many regions, allergy season kicks in as spring arrives. That’s why Asthma and Allergy Awareness occurs each May.
If you’re experiencing allergies, you may find it hard to manage your usual routine as a family caregiver. The sneezing, coughing, and itchy, watery eyes are making you miserable. Add in a constantly runny nose and scratchy through, and it’s not surprising you want to stay at home.
You may be having mild symptoms, but severe allergies can trigger asthma attacks, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. That’s why it’s so important to take care of yourself. Respite care helps make that happen.
What is Respite Care?
Home Care Northbrook, IL: Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
With respite care, a paid caregiver comes to your mom’s home and helps her with daily activities. She might need someone to help her clean her home. Her needs may be extensive and take all the day.
Home care assistance services cover respite care as needed. You might need a few weeks before allergy season lessens enough for you to want to get back to your normal routine. You may just need a few days to find an effective allergy medication. It could be that you need a day to see your doctor and discuss this year’s plan.
With respite care, the caregiver takes over as long as you need. When you’re ready to get back to being your mom’s primary caregiver, respite care services end. You could decide that a week off each week is important and stick with home care assistance.
Getting Started
Keep a list of the things you help your mom do each day. If you help her shower, dress, and style her hair, note that. If you cook meals and prepare snacks, put that on the list. What else do you help your mom complete each day?
Do you remind her to take her medications? Are you the one to schedule her appointments and drive her to the different medical and dental offices? Do you take her shopping and arrange prescription refills?
What else is on your daily list? How about housework, laundry, pet care, and bill paying? Are you the person who takes her for walks around the neighborhood? If you have a to-do list, another caregiver can step in and help out if you’re not feeling well enough.
Talk to your family about your mom’s care plan. Let them know you’re down with allergies again, and see if anyone can help out. If your brother is available one day each week, he could take over for that day. The rest of the week can be covered by professional caregivers.
Home care assistance helps you take care of yourself without leaving your mom alone. Talk to a specialist about one of the essential services to help family caregivers take breaks. Ask a home care assistance advisor about respite care.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Northbrook, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
https://www.aafa.org/allergy-facts/
- 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Try To Move A Senior Parent Alone - November 20, 2024
- Senior Care Tips and Legal Guidance at Belmont Village Event - November 19, 2024
- An Extra Hand for Your Loved One During the Holidays - November 13, 2024