Parents of special needs children often juggle an extremely difficult schedule that includes doctor visits, therapy sessions and spending hours on the phone with insurance companies and medical providers. When it comes to home care for children with special needs the parents often put their own life on the back burner and put off even the basic necessities, such as sleep. However, it is essential that as a parent to a special needs child that you take care of yourself, in order to be able to take care of your child. The good news is that there are things you can do to find even the smallest amount of “me time”, including allowing the assistance of a pediatric home care provider.
Pediatric Home Care Aventura FL – Parents of Special Needs Children-Taking Care of Yourself
Here are a few ways to get a few much needed breaks.
Accept Help From Family and Friends
Sometimes it’s hard to ask others for help, because you worry about them being busy. But, you should ask for help, whether it be asking a family member to sit with your child for an hour while you have coffee with a friend or simply just to listen to you vent for a minute or two about your latest discussion with a medical provider.
Make a List of Needs
If you are like most parents of special needs children, you probably have others telling you all the time “Let me know if I can do anything”. Instead of turning down the help, make a list of things you need, such as picking up siblings from school, going to the grocery store or watching the children while you take a quick break. As you think of things you need, write them down and do not hesitate to pull out your list as a reference the next time someone offers to lend a hand.
Enlist the Help of Pediatric Home Care
Parents of children with special needs often feel like they are the only ones who can handle the care of their child. To an extent, this is true, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get away every now and then. Pediatric home care providers have been trained to handle a variety of medical and special needs for children. Take your time and interview as many providers as necessary until you find those you and your child are comfortable with, then use the time the pediatric home care provider is with your child to take some time for yourself.
Being the parent of a special needs child can be exhilarating as well as exhausting. But it is essential that you keep in mind that if you become overwhelmed or distressed, it may interfere with the ability to care for your child. So the best way to provide the ultimate care for your special needs child is to also take the time to take care of yourself.
If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Care Services in Aventura FL, contact the caring staff at Providence Healthcare Services. We provide services in all of Miami Dade county and the Upper Keys. Call today (305) 680-5349.
