It’s that time of year again! With the start of September comes a brand new school year. Students from all over Canada are returning to their classrooms. Before you know it, the fall season will be upon us. In fact, it becomes official on the 22nd of this month. Many families in Calgary are currently feeling the shift into faster paces of life. Parents are juggling school drop-offs, extracurricular activities and tighter schedules.
For those who are also caring for elderly loved ones at home, this season can become especially challenging. What makes back-to-school season so stressful for caregivers?
Back-to-school season can create scheduling conflicts.
Back-to-school routines bring with them added responsibilities and tighter timelines. For caregivers of elderly loved ones, this means less flexibility and more pressure to be in multiple places at once. Common challenges include time management conflicts. Caregivers may need to be at school for meetings, sports practices or after-school pick-ups at the same time their elderly parents require assistance with daily routines.
Alzheimer Society of Canada points out that, at this time of year, time adjustments must be made. “Caregivers, who are often family members, may have been providing care during the summer months when children were off from school,” notes their website, “With the start of the school year, caregivers might need to adjust their schedules and routines to accommodate both caregiving responsibilities and school-related commitments.”
Back-to-school season can create mental and emotional overload.
At this spot on the calendar, caregivers are tasked with remembering school schedules, homework deadlines and doctor’s appointments for both children and seniors. This can overwhelm even the most capable caregiver. As well, caregivers experience reduced downtime. With evenings and weekends filling up with school commitments, they often lose precious personal time needed for rest and recovery.
Medaca Health Group advises caregivers to check in on their own mental loads. “Working parents carry invisible weight – managing everyone’s schedules, emotions, and to-dos,” their site acknowledges, “If you’re feeling short-tempered or scattered, you’re not alone. Try carving out 10–15 minutes each day just for you (a walk, a podcast, even a few deep breaths). Consider speaking to your doctor or a mental health professional if the stress becomes too much.”
Respite care can ease the load.
Respite care offers family caregivers the chance to take a step back, recharge and focus on other responsibilities. It also ensures that their loved ones continue to receive high-quality support. With the right help, families can maintain balance and peace of mind during hectic times of the year. At Senior Homecare by Angels in Calgary, respite care is more than just a service. It’s a lifeline for busy families.
Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean burnout. With our Respite Care services, your family can breathe easier knowing that your elderly loved ones are cared for by skilled, compassionate professionals. Our Angels can visit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays for three to four hours at a time. During each visit, the Angel provides assistance with daily activities such as toileting, dressing and bathing.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them.
We are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at 403-862-0129 or if outside of Calgary, toll-free at 1-877-209-6142. You may also visit our Contact Us page to complete and submit a simple contact form!