What is Respite Care?

By definition, respite means to take a short break or a time of relief and rest. Both the person who needs care and their caregiver can get a short break from their normal routines. The caregiver gets some time to relax and rejuvenate themselves while the person they’re caring for gets care from a qualified staff. Today, a person can get respite care by:

• Family, friends, volunteers, or paid staff
• At home, a residential care center, or a community organization
• For a few hours, overnight, or a few weeks
• On a regular basis or once in a while

Understanding Why People Choose Respite Care

A lot of caregivers have other responsibilities outside of caring for the individual, especially if it’s a family member. People choose to use respite care because it can give the caregiver the time they need to meet any of their personal needs without worry about the individual they’re caring for.

The caregiver can spend time with family or friends, take time to do errands or have a personal day, and give them the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the person receiving respite care is taken care of and happy.

Also, respite care benefits the person who the caregiver is looking after as well. It lets this person spend time with other people who may have the same challenges, spend more time in a supportive and safe environment, and participate in several activities to keep them entertained and happy.

Different Types of Respite Care Services

Although there are several different respite care services and options available, we’ll go over the most common ones, so you get a good understanding of your options.

In-Home Respite Care – The caregiver will come to the individual’s home and provide care. They can perform a variety of duties including bathing, meal preparation, activities, light cleaning, and shopping. This type of respite care usually comes on a private basis, and the family members pay for it.
Day Centers for Adults – An adult day center gets the individual with dementia or Alzheimer’s out of the home and into a supportive and caring environment.  They can interact with other people who have the same diagnosis in a structured and safe environment. Hours vary, but a lot of these centers are open five days a week until later in the afternoon.

Residential Care Centers – Residential facilities can provide care for overnight or a few weeks. This allows caregivers to take an extended break while the person they’re caring for is in a supervised environment that suits their needs. These care centers cater to the individual’s needs, and they have activities to keep them happy and occupied throughout their stay.

Choosing a Respite Care Service

Now that you know what respite care is and are aware of a few different types of respite care, you’ll want to know how to choose a respite care service.

If you plan on using the services of an in-home caregiver, set up a time to meet the person in your home. Ask for any certifications, experience, or relevant skills they may have, and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Be very specific about the person who needs care’s needs. It may be a good idea to have them around for the interview process as well.

For an adult day center, arrange for a time where you can meet the staff and tour the facilities. While you’re there, make sure that the center is clean, and look to see if the people there stay occupied with various activities. Be sure to ask about personalized care, and tell them about any specific needs they’ll have to be able to meet.

Residential facilities are a bit different because you won’t be around constantly. So, take a tour and talk with the staff. If it’s possible, talk to residents who are already there and with some of their family members. It’s also a good idea to stop by in the evening hours to see how the routine changes and if the residents seem happy and content.

Common Concerns About Respite Care and Overcoming Them

If you’re trying respite care for the first time, you may have some concerns or be apprehensive. This is normal, and some of the common concerns people have about respite care include:

• Cost – A lot of people worry about how they’ll pay for their caregiver services. You can look into community grants, scholarships, government programs, or sliding scale fee programs. You may want to contact your local Unit on Aging or your local Alzheimer’s Association for additional help.

• Guilt – Guilt is a very common emotion you may experience when you reach out for help with your loved one. Respite services benefit the family as well as the person with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Everyone can relax.

• Reliability – Reliability is another common concern. Don’t be afraid to ask for certifications or experience when you’re talking to an aide or staff at a facility. It’s a good idea to check references as well.

Preparing for Respite Care

You want to get to know the staff and caregivers who will be caring for your loved one. Talk with them and tell them anything specific about the person with dementia they should know. You can also fill out a Personal Facts and Insights form, so they have it on hand when you’re not around. This can help the caregivers get to know the person better and communicate better.

Respite Care Checklist

There are a few things you want to keep in mind, no matter what type of respite care you decide to use.

• Families are encouraged to be involved in the care planning stage
• Staff encourages the families to communicate with them
• The facility can meet any medical needs
• Everyone has a personalized care plan tailored to their needs
• There are scheduled activities to keep people occupied
• The facility promotes independence
• Secure and safe indoor and outdoor areas
• Regular meal and snack times are set up

If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s and you’re interested in respite care services, contact us. We’re happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have, or we can set up a tour. We look forward to helping you care for your loved one!

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Respite Care San Diego

Manage Feelings of Guilt

Feelings of guilt are often associated with caring for persons who require constant care, however, the best thing you can do for yourself is manage those feelings as soon as you notice them. As a caregiver, you are only as good as you feel. This may sound a little strange but it’s true. If you are not at your best, it is impossible for you to deliver the best care possible to the person you are caring for. If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety and stress, the person you are caring for will feel the effects.

You must always remember, even though your loved one is in a state where it would appear they are completely unaware of what is going on around them, they still have the ability to feel and to sense danger, experience emotional hurt, and have a general sense of something being wrong with the person in charge of their care. This is one of the reasons why respite care is such an important element to add into your treatment plan. Respite Care San Diego affords you the freedom, and grants you the permission you need to be able to take a step back, and just take a much-needed break, so you can refresh and rejuvenate yourself.

You have to understand that it is impossible to be all things to all people, especially to those you are responsible for taking care of. You should also come to understand, you should never feel guilty about taking some time out for yourself, because the truth of the matter is, the time you spend taking care of yourself and doing something you enjoy only enhances your ability to give the person you are caring for the best care possible.

Keeping Everything in Balance

If you are the caregiver for someone who has Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia, sometimes it can be difficult to take care of all of the tasks you are responsible for in any given day. You may have noticed your loved one is more difficult to handle during certain times of the day. There is a reason for this, and the term associated with this phenomenon is sundowning. Sundowning occurs during the late afternoon to the early evening hours and is triggered when the sun begins to fade. As the evening hours move into nighttime hours, sundowning tends to get worse. Generally, by morning, people tend to be better, but if you are the one who had to provide the care and attention needed during those hours, you are more than likely going to be both emotionally and physically drained.

Respite care can be the answer to helping you find your sense of balance, and help you maintain your physical and mental health. Just knowing you have somewhere safe you can take your loved one can help put your mind at ease while you take a break and partake in activities you enjoy.

Not Just for the Elderly

Respite care is not only for those who are elderly. If you are the primary caregiver for someone who has a chronic or debilitating illness like Downs Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis, for instance, respite care can benefit you. Often times when persons are being cared for in the home, they tend to feel a certain sense of isolation. If they are elderly, they may have experienced the deaths of several friends, or they may have fallen into a state of depression because they are not socializing at the levels they were accustomed to when they lived independently.

Everyone needs socialization, and everyone needs to feel like their life has a purpose. Respite care can help caregivers and those who care for them by giving those who may feel isolated a place they can go outside of the home. There they can communicate with others in similar situations. They also have the opportunity to socialize with others in their peer group. Sometimes just being around others in similar situations is enough to give those who have lost their sense of independence the will to move forward and make the adjustments needed to accept their current state of being.

Extended and Emergency Care

It is important to recognize, respite care is not only there to give you a break for a few hours, respite care is also available to help you when you need to go out of town for a weekend away, and also times when you need to be gone for a week or more due to an out of town work assignment. You should consider visiting facilities offering respite care in case of an emergency. If for some reason, you needed to place your loved one you, need the comfort of knowing you didn’t just place them somewhere because of desperation. You need to be able to trust the facility caring for your loved one, so visiting respite care facilities before an emergency arises will prevent you from experiencing undue stress at a time when you need it the least.

Remember, respite care is there to take some of the burden away from you, the caregiver. Respite services can be provided in the home, or outside of the home. Respite care services can include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• helping you organize a personalized care plan
• giving you an opportunity to take a break
• taking care of chores around the home like cooking, cleaning, and helping with basic hygiene
• Socialization
• connecting you with support groups 

You don’t have to handle everything on your own. There is help available, and caring people who are there to take care of your loved one and give you the peace of mind you need to live a life that is full and healthy. Give a Respite Care facility a call today to see how it can be of service to you.

The post Respite Care San Diego | Everyone Needs a Break appeared first on Lakeside Manor.