Have You Considered How You’ll Take a Night Off for Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is here, and you’d like to go out, but you’re not sure how. Your mom and dad rely on you to help them. If you take a night off, they’d be alone, and that’s not an acceptable option. How are you supposed to take time off when you’re the primary family caregiver?

Make Plans in Advance

Companion Care at Home in Katy, TX: Taking a Night Off

Plan your Valentine’s Day outing as far in advance as you can. That gives you time to talk to other family members and see if they’re available to spend time with your parents. It also enables you to make restaurant reservations before there’s no more space.

You might not want to go out. A quiet night at home is just as romantic, especially if you have a local restaurant prepare a meal that you can take home and heat up. Many have special three-course menus you order ahead of time. Order a meal and line up a movie to watch after dinner.

How Is Your Support System?

What support system is in place? You may be the primary family caregiver, but that doesn’t mean you’re the only child. If you have brothers and sisters, they need to chip in as much as possible. Even if they don’t live nearby, there are ways they could help you take time off.

Your brother lives hours away, but he could take time each week to balance your parents’ accounts, pay bills, and shop online for supplies you’ve listed on a shopping list. Your sister could take time to schedule appointments and research medical information.

You have cousins who live nearby and like visiting your parents. Ask them if they could drop by on days you have other things you’d like to do. While you go out, your cousin is with your parents until you return.

Learn About Respite Care

Respite care is a vital home care service that pairs your parents with a professional caregiver from time to time. Use it to take a night off, work outside of the home, or recover from an illness. You can use respite care frequently for breaks or only when you’re sick with a contagious virus.

Never underestimate the value of having a day off now and then. With companion care at home, your parents are not alone while you go out with your spouse, friends, or other family members. Talk to a specialist in companion care at home to get started.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Katy, TX, contact the caring staff at Personal Caregiving Services at 832-564-0338. Providing Care in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, and Sugar Land and the surrounding areas.

Sid Gerber