09.30.09
What is Respite Care?
Respite Care is short-term service to provide a
break for full-time caregivers of seniors or other individuals with
disabilities.
Caregiving is an exhausting job. Many family members who care for
their loved one in their own home never get a break. Daily errands
which would be routine for the rest of us–shopping, going to the
bank, taking the kids to soccer practice–can become all but
impossible for a caregiver. That’s where Respite Care come in. To give
the primary care-giver a break. It could be for just a few hours or it
could be all day. Whatever the schedule, respite care is, by
definition, part time. Respite Care-Givers are usually nurses, but
don’t have to be. Some services will send their care-givers to your
home while others offer their own facilities for you to drop your
loved one off at. Adult Day Care facilities often come into play here.
Respite Care Services are often called on for loved ones who suffer
from Alzheimers or Dementia and cannot be left alone. But this is not
always the case. It can also be helpful for those who have trouble
moving around or have scheduled medication that needs to be
administered. These services are generally much more affordable than
other types of elder care. I live in Texas and have seen several Dementia
and Alzheimer’s care facilities pop up in the East Texas area. Depending on
how bad the elderly disease has become you may be able to continue to have
your loved one cared for from yours or their home.
So how do you choose a Respite Care Service? First, evaluate your
locational needs. Would it be easier for you if a caregiver looked
after your loved one at home or somewhere else? In many cases, the at-
home option would be easier for your loved one, who could stay in the
same familiar, safe environment.
But sometimes this is not an option, especially for those busy home-
makers who desperately need a quiet house for a few hours to do that
much-needed housework. And for the busy, on-the-go caregiver who has
to spend most of the day running around in town anyway, it might be
easier to drop your loved one off at a proven, safe environment, and
not have to worry about how the house looks, etc. This is also a good
option for those seniors who crave a change of scenery.
Whatever your specific needs, it might be time to look into Respite
Care. It could just help you, the caregiver, avoid burnout.