Respite Care

What is Respite Care?

Respite care gives the main caretaker of a sick, elderly, or disabled family member a much-needed break from taking care of that person. Respite care can be given in your own home, at a daycare center, or in a place where you can stay overnight, like a residential or nursing home. Getting respite care, whether for a few hours a week or for a long vacation, can help lighten the load of family caregiving. It can also help relieve stress, give you energy, and bring balance to your life. It may also keep you from feeling tired, alone, or even worn out. Respite care can also help the person being cared for by giving them a break from their usual routine and exposing them to new things.

Taking care of yourself and getting help are important parts of being a caregiver, so taking time for yourself is not selfish. If you’re exhausted by the daily grind of caregiving, your patience and compassion will wear thin, you’ll struggle to connect with the person you’re caring for, and you’ll both likely feel dissatisfied. But if you take a break to recharge your batteries, you will feel more focused, energized, and ready to do your job as a caregiver. You may even learn new strategies to deal with typical challenges you have as a caregiver, making the caring journey more pleasurable and fulfilling for both you and the loved one in your care.

Different types of respite programs

Respite care can take numerous forms, but it always boils down to two basic concepts: sharing the burden of caring and receiving assistance for yourself. Respite might include inviting friends and relatives to monitor your loved one while you visit others, go to the gym, or do housework, for example. On the other hand, respite care could mean finding volunteers or paid caregivers to help your loved one at home on an as-needed or regular basis. Lastly, respite care could mean using services outside of the home, like adult day care centers, day camps, or nursing homes, to give you a break while your loved one gets the care they need.

Respite care in the home

Volunteer or paid assistance might provide in-home services on an as-needed or regular basis. The time it takes to get services can range from a few hours to many days, and you can do it yourself or go through an agency. This popular respite option allows your loved one to stay in their own home while receiving care, which may be important for you as the primary caregiver.

• Volunteers from faith-based, community, and other non-profit groups may be available.
• Trained staff members from home-care agencies can offer short-term in-home care.
• Personal care professionals can help with activities of daily life such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
• Homemaker services assist with food preparation, grocery shopping, and housework.
• Your loved one’s medical demands can be met through skilled health care, which involves more specific training and competence.
  
  

Away from Home Respite Care

Depending on where you live, you can find a variety of private and non-profit respite programs for children, adults, and seniors. These are some examples:

• Adult day care facilities are intended for elderly people who are unable to manage alone or who are isolated and lonely. Through social and health services, planned activities enhance well-being. Adult day care centers are open during the day, Monday through Friday, and provide a safe, supportive, and pleasant atmosphere. Meals and afternoon snacks, including those that cater to particular diets, are usually included.
• Residential programs provide short-term care for varied durations of time. Group homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and other specialized institutions offer emergency and scheduled overnight services, giving caregivers relief 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most health insurance plans in the U.S. do not cover overnight care, but long-term care insurance and programs for veterans may help pay for care.
• Some places offer getaways and camps for caregivers that give them a break while also providing education and peer support.

Using family members to provide respite care 

Family and friends may be able to assist you while you run an errand, rest, or even go on vacation. However, just as the responsibility of caregiving is frequently too much for one person to bear, it may also be a difficult process for families to share. Even in healthy families, taking care of someone all the time can cause a lot of stress, especially if the work isn’t shared evenly. The following tactics can be used to increase support and participation:

• Open and frequent communication is essential. Maintain communication with your family about your loved one’s requirements and condition. Family members who aren’t involved in day-to-day caregiving may not know about the responsibilities and tensions that come with it.
• Encourage family members to consider what they can do honestly and reasonably. Changing responsibilities and resource levels can have an influence on family engagement. Accept other points of view, accept constraints, and be open to trying new tactics. Share your list of requirements and accept all offers of assistance.
• Recognize your own emotions and talk about disproportionate duties. When you need extra help, harboring anger can harm your health and possibly lead to burnout. Inquire directly with family members for tangible help and time commitments. Create an online calendar to organize relief and confirm schedules.
• Utilize technology to bridge gaps. Arrange family gatherings at times that are convenient for everyone by using free video conferencing services. Create a web-based community to exchange information and discuss choices.
• Take part in support groups. Learning how other families deal with this might open up new possibilities and methods of coping for you. If you know other reliable and trustworthy caregivers, you might be able to trade respite services with them. Peer help can be very helpful when siblings are unable or unwilling to share the load.
  
  

Overcoming Respite Care Obstacles

Even though it may look like you need a break from the physical and mental demands of caring for your friends, family, and even to yourself, asking for help is not always easy. When you’re the primary, long-term caretaker for a close family member, it might be difficult to relinquish responsibility for their care.

Perhaps you believe that explaining your daily caregiving routine to another person is too difficult, or that taking time off would simply cause additional issues when you return; it’s simpler to just stick it out and do everything alone. Perhaps you believe it is terrible to ever become tired of caring for someone you love, especially if you are a parent caring for a child. Maybe you’re just worried that the person taking over won’t care for your loved one well enough. Or, on the other hand, perhaps you’re afraid that a respite caregiver will do a better job and you’ll feel inadequate or unneeded.

All of these are frequent reasons for refusing respite care. It’s crucial to remember, though, that respite care is an essential part of the caregiving process, not just for you but also for the person you’re caring for and the rest of your family.

Multiple relationships are necessary. It’s not healthy to spend every hour of every day and night with the same person, no matter how close you are to them or how well you’re doing as their caretaker, especially in an inherently stressful caregiving setting. Everyone, including you as a caregiver and the person you’re taking care of, needs to be stimulated by many connections.

Accept that no one else can provide the same amount of love as you—and then find the finest substitute. Even if you believe you are the best person to care for your loved one, there is no reason not to seek respite care. If nothing else, your loved one will be even more grateful when you return from your vacation. Time apart may assist in restoring and revitalizing any relationship.

It is not abnormal to require a break. The majority of us work 40-hour weeks with a daily coffee break and lunch hour, as well as nights and weekends off. Even workers with more demanding schedules do not work around the clock, day after day, without a break or some time to themselves to look forward to. Time off is essential for your health and well-being.

Respite care might offer a fresh set of eyes. If, like most caregivers, you accepted the job of family caregiver without any professional training, expecting you to be an expert and know everything about your new duty is unrealistic. Getting care from someone else, especially someone with experience or professional training, can give you a new look at your daily routine and help you figure out how to do certain caregiving tasks in a different way.

Consider a relief exchange. Trading respite services with other caregivers you know and trust might be a simple way to make time for yourself. This could mean taking turns having a kid stay the night or taking care of the other person’s patients while the other is on vacation.

Planning, selection, and choice are critical components of your respite care experience. Understanding your needs, picking the right type of respite care, and choosing the right provider will make it easier to give up control of your loved one’s care. Doing your research, getting references and referrals from providers, and planning carefully for other family members to take over may all help to put your mind at ease.

Maintain or renew your interests and hobbies. It is not uncommon for long-term family caregivers to seek respite care and then discover a void in their lives. After devoting so much time to caring, people get disoriented when those obligations are removed, even if only temporarily. You will be able to keep interests outside of your loved one’s care and maintain your own identity if you seek respite services early and frequently.

Prepare to be Relieved 

Planning for respite care begins with assessing your and your loved one’s requirements. It is important to figure out the type, skills, frequency, and location of respite services so that you get the right help and your loved one keeps getting the best care. Is it support that you require the most as a caregiver? Or is it just ordinary downtime? Or perhaps transportation assistance? Keeping track of your daily activities will make it easier to delegate responsibility to a family member or respite care provider while you rest. It can also help you figure out the places and times when you need the most help.

Identifying your loved one’s wants and preferences will also aid in your search for the perfect match. Does your loved one prioritize social activities? Do they need help walking, eating, or taking medications? Are they in need of mental stimulation? Or do you like to work out? Answering questions like these might help you decide which respite choices to explore.

It might be tough to relinquish your family member’s care to others, especially strangers, when you invest so much love and energy in caregiving. Whether you hire a caregiver on your own or through an agency, doing some simple research can help ease your worries.

Using Third-Party Caregivers

Taking the time to find the right person is important for your peace of mind and for keeping your family safe. Make certain that you:

• Conduct a comprehensive interview with each candidate. A telephone screening should always be followed by an in-person interview.
• Make a detailed list of all the chores, abilities, and schedules involved in your loved one’s care.
• Talk about compensation and payment schedules. Do not pay in advance for services.
• Request and thoroughly review many job and personal references. Check the information given and ask questions about how reliable, trustworthy, on time, and able to deal with stress the care provider is.
• Consider doing a background check. These may be done at a low cost through internet providers and will warn you of potentially critical issues.
• If the person who might receive care is able to, include them in the screening process. This will make sure that everyone is comfortable and that your loved one’s needs are met.
  
  

Collaboration with government agencies

While independent providers are usually less expensive, home care organizations and referral services might be more convenient.

An agency has qualified caregivers, handles payroll, and usually fills in for employees who are sick or out of the office. If issues arise, you have certain routes of redress (complaints, mediation, or arbitration) that you do not have when working with people.

Referral services match your requirements with area respite programs.

Selecting out-of-home respite care services

Plan to attend at least three possible out-of-home programs after you’ve identified them. Examine the personnel and how they interact with the patients. Imagine your loved one there, and ask plenty of questions, such as :

• How are providers of care screened?
• What is the degree of training and experience of the caregivers?
• Will caregivers require additional training to fulfill the requirements of certain families?
• How and by whom are caregivers supervised?
• What emergency protocols does the program have in place?
• Are families restricted to a specific number of service hours?
• Is transportation and food provided by the program?
• How much do services cost? How is payment handled?
  
  

Spend a day in the center that appeals to you, if possible, to get a sense of the people and environment. Bring a site checklist like the one below with you. You might want to come back a few times to check if your experience on other days confirms your first thoughts.

The checklist for adult day care center site visits would be :

• Were you made to feel comfortable at the center?
• Did someone correctly describe the center’s offerings and activities?
• Were you provided with detailed information about the employees, programs, and costs?
• Was the facility clean, well-kept, and odor-free?
• Was the center wheelchair-accessible?
• Was the furniture in good condition and comfortable?
• Was there a peaceful, comfortable area to unwind?
• When engaging, did the staff and participants appear joyful and at ease?
  
  

Making the most of respite care

While finding and arranging respite care may appear to be a lot of work, it’s important to remember that respite is the result of pausing from the demands of caring.

Make time for regular breaks. Overlooking your own needs or attempting to shoulder all of the tasks of caring without regular breaks can only result in major health issues such as burnout.

Use checklists to tell respite care providers about your loved one’s schedule, their likes and dislikes, and what they like and don’t like. Make plans for dealing with any difficult behaviors.

Make contingency preparations. Maintain a list of alternate respite care providers and resources at all times. Unexpected events should not prevent you from caring for yourself.

Evaluate respite care providers on a regular basis. Examine your caregiver before and after respite sessions. Request brief updates and more extensive reports on a frequent basis.

Expect to see changes. Respite care is a process that frequently requires fine-tuning. Anticipating and embracing personnel or program changes will help you avoid becoming disappointed.

Attend a support group on a regular basis. You can meet people in similar situations to yours through both formal and informal groups. You may discuss, rant, laugh, and share advice with individuals who understand your situation. Online communities, message boards, and forums can be very helpful if you can’t leave your house.