Respite Care
Respite care refers to short-term care and assistance provided to children, the elderly and people with disabilities, allowing the regular caregiver or family a break from the stress and work involved in caregiving. There are many agencies across the country that provide temporary assistance to people who need some time away from their caregiving duties. Respite helps caregivers deal with the stress of their duties, giving them time to relax and enjoy activities away from the pressure of their caregiving duties.
Who needs respite care services?
Respite services are available to a variety of caregivers, including people who:
- Care for the elderly
- Care for the disabled
- Care for children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or behavioral disorders
What services are provided?
The services provided through respite care vary depending on the agency or individual involved. Some do in-house respite work, while others work out of a facility. Each will have its own time restrictions on how long they provide respite care.
Respite care workers typically perform a variety of functions for the people they are looking after, including some or all of the following tasks:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Grocery shopping
- House cleaning
- Cooking and eating
- Paying bills
- Making sure medicine is taken
Providers of respite care services are often people with backgrounds in nursing, or who have looked after people in their own families who needed care. Still, you should investigate the credentialing and training of any respite care facility or worker before having them care for your loved one.
Would you benefit from respite services?
Caregivers should consider the following questions when contemplating whether they need the assistance respite care agencies provide:
- Are you feeling an undue amount of stress in your life because of your caregiving duties?
- Does caregiving interfere with your personal appointments or scheduled events?
- Do you avoid doing activities because you do not want to leave the person for whom you are caring?
- Do you feel you are imposing on family and friends if you ask for their assistance with caregiving?
- Do you avoid handing over caregiving responsibilities because you do not think your substitute will be properly trained and skilled?
- If you had time away from caregiving would you use it to enjoy time and activities with other family members and friends?
Resources
For assistance caring for a person with a specific aliment like Alzheimer's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis, caregivers can try contacting local chapters of charities and agencies associated with the specific condition. These organizations may have resources and references for local respite care providers who specialize in helping people with specific disabilities or ailments.
©2022 ComPsych ® Corporation. All rights reserved. This information is for educational purposes only. It is always important to consult with the appropriate professional on financial, medical, legal, behavioral or other issues. As you read this information, it is your responsibility to make sure that the facts and ideas apply to your situation.