Caregiver: In 2020, 37% of family caregivers lived in the same home as their older parent or care recipient.
More than half of older adults 75 or older live with their caregiver. Adult children often move into their parents’ homes rather than move their parents in with them.
You often don’t get a break when you’re a live-in family caregiver. You have your dad with you 24/7. If he needs something in the middle of the night, he wakes you up. You’re also the one with him all day. It’s imperative that you follow these tips for live-in family caregivers.
Have Space for Yourself
Make sure you and your dad both have personal space. If you have the room, add a nook in your bedroom where you can go and meditate or have a moment to yourself. Do the same for him. If you have teens at home, let them have a space for unwinding, too.
If you feel stressed or frustrated, head to your room, sit down and take a few minutes. He also has a space he can go to when he’s tired of being around you.
Schedule Times Carefully
Sharing a home can be stressful when you’re used to your own space. Your dad may not be used to sharing a bathroom with multiple people. The same is true with you. While you can’t avoid emergency bathroom trips, you can create a schedule for showers and oral care.
If there are multiple bathrooms, that’s ideal as others can have a bathroom to themselves. You will want to set rules on keeping the bathroom clean to avoid that becoming your task. If your dad cannot clean, you’ll have to clean for him. But, you shouldn’t have to clean a bathroom your teens share.
Leave Time for Self-Care
Self-care is essential for your mental and physical health. Caregiver burnout can happen, but you can take care of yourself if you arrange days off now and then.
Things to consider are that self-care isn’t just about seeing your doctor. You need to spend time socializing with friends and other family members. Go for walks, enjoy a favorite hobby, and enjoy a meal out with your spouse.
Another aspect of self-care you don’t want to overlook is attending support groups for family caregivers. It’s beneficial to have a social circle of others who are in a similar situation and know what you’re going through.
Make sure you have time for your own appointments and personal care needs. With personal care at home, you have time off for self-care while a caregiver goes to your parents’ house to help them with their care needs. Call a caregiver home specialist to make the arrangements.
For more information about hiring a Caregiver in San Diego, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Sources:
- Senior Care Tips: Do You Know How Heat Affects Your Elderly Parents? - May 26, 2025
- Should You Put Cameras in Your Elderly Loved One’s Home? - May 25, 2025
- Older Adults and Lead Poisoning: Know the Symptoms - May 24, 2025
