If you feel like your elderly mother is consuming your life, you are not alone. As shared by SeniorLiving.org, caregiving can be very stressful, especially when trying to balance this effort with a job, children, or any other responsibilities. From difficulty sleeping to depression, the very health of caregivers can be compromised as a result of caregiving, especially when it becomes overwhelming. If you are serving as a caregiver to an elderly mother or another family member, you may be wondering about the following:
- Why is caregiving taking over my life?
- What should I do if caring for my elderly mother is consuming my life?
- Why might a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) be a better choice for my loved one and for me?
Keep reading to learn more about managing your caregiving responsibilities and why a CCRC near you like Arbors of Hop Brook may be the right choice for your family’s needs!
Why is my elderly mother consuming my life?
For many people, even thinking that “my elderly mother is consuming life” may evoke complicated emotions such as guilt, frustration and even resentment. However, the hours of time spent caregiving can quickly add up whether you are navigating an elderly mother’s needs in person or doing long-distance caregiving, as explained by the National Institute on Aging. Importantly, those hours don’t even account for any time spent worrying about the person for whom you are caring or the impact of time spent with them on other areas of your life.
Feeling like an elderly mother is consuming your life has many causes, no matter how frequent the contact and how close the relationship has been over the years. For example, an elderly mother may be feeling more lonely despite any ongoing visits or even with increased contact, perhaps even exhibiting signs of depression. Consequently, you may feel pressure to increase your time together even more in the hope that she starts to feel a little happier. If common issues with daily care for the elderly are emerging and greater assistance is needed for housekeeping tasks, bathing and more, then these added tasks may be exceeding your available time or ability to take them on. When there are concerns about your own well-being or more frequent signs that it might be time for assisted living for your mom, it may be time for a change.
What should I do if my elderly mother is consuming my life?
As the signs of aging become more prevalent, you may feel like your elderly mother is consuming your life more and more. This sentiment can mean that you are already at the point of being overwhelmed as a caregiver, perhaps to the detriment of your well-being or your other relationships and roles. Therefore, while you might try setting and sticking to better boundaries in terms of the care and support you can offer, it may already be past time to have a conversation about senior living as the next best step for your family and you. To set yourself up for success, plan a time to talk to your elderly mother and consider reviewing these tips from A Place For Mom to help you with this conversation. Then, you may be able to work together to find the best assisted living home or CCRC in your area, such as Arbors of Hop Brook.
How can a CCRC like Arbors of Hop Brook help you and your loved one?
A continuing care retirement community or CCRC near you may be the ideal choice both for older adults and those who care about them. These residences for older adults are designed to support them, as they continue their independent lifestyles or require additional services for their unique health needs and considerations. If you are feeling like your elderly mother is consuming your life, then it may be time to explore nearby CCRCs that provide comprehensive care that meet your family’s needs.
Arbors of Hop Brook can provide greater peace of mind for both older adults and the ones who love them. It can also be an opportunity to create more quality time together instead of time that can feel overwhelming or not enough. Instead of you driving your parents to appointments or trying to manage medical needs in person or remotely, Arbors of Hop Brook has a skilled staff of registered nurses and other care professionals, as well as free scheduled transportation to doctors in the area, 24-hour emergency service and additional physical therapy services and more at the adjacent Manchester Manor. Plus, our services and amenities provide abundant opportunities for entertainment and social engagement, so that your quality time with your mom can be one of many solutions to helping an elderly mother who is never happy.
If your elderly mother is consuming your life, then it may be time to explore other options for care. Located east of the Connecticut River in Manchester, CT, Arbors of Hop Brook is an award-winning senior living community. To learn more about our CCRC, check out our Arbors Senior Living Magazine or schedule an in-person tour. We also offer virtual tours to give you an idea about our floor plans and other apartment features. If you have any additional questions, please contact us today.