Caring for a loved one is hard on family members. Whether it’s caring for a disabled child, elderly parents, someone living with cancer or dementia, it’s a time-consuming commitment.
If you’re a full-time caregiver, you know that it’s impossible to do it all. Besides being physically and mentally demanding, providing care to a loved one can result in burnout. You need a break every once in a while! Thankfully, there is a solution that provides care for a loved one while enabling family caregivers to have the downtime they so desperately need. It’s called respite care. Respite care is designed for any family caregiver who needs a break. The type of respite care may vary. It could range from minor care, such as help around the house, meal preparation or assistance running errands, to more personal care, such as help with dressing, bathing and toileting.
Take a few minutes to read through some of the most commonly asked questions about this type of care. See if respite care might be a good choice for your situation. The Arc, Montgomery County, also offers subsidies to offset the cost of respite care. Information about Respite Care and their Application are available online.
Who Needs Respite Care?
Respite care enables you to continue to care for your loved one, while also hiring a professional for short-term or periodic help. Respite care is primarily designed for family caregivers who need a break every once in a while. Assisting Hands Home Care provides respite care workers who are able to reduce the stress and anxiety of a caregiver, while providing a variety of care options to the patient.
When Should You Use Respite Care And How Often?
The answer to this question depends on your circumstances. Maybe you would benefit from a break of a few-hours each week or perhaps you’d like help every morning. Respite care is flexible and can be used as frequently or infrequently as you need.
What Services Do Respite Providers Offer?
The types of respite care services provided depend on the circumstances of the situation. Some of the services provided by Assisting Hands for people who are in respite care include, but are not limited to:
- Providing personal assistance around the house (i.e. answering the door, caring for plants and pets, organizing mail, preparing grocery lists and more)
- Providing companionship
- Assistance with personal grooming activities, like bathing, dressing, toileting
- Aid with reading
- Providing reminders for appointments
- Helping with food shopping and other errands
- Supervising home maintenance
- Accompanying a family member on a visit to visit friends or neighbors
Respite care is valuable for a spouse. It’s hard to be both a spouse and a caregiver – respite care offers a break to the spouse. Equally important is respite care provided to busy mothers. Constant supervision of teens, especially with special needs, can be exhausting. Mother’s need a break too! And respite care is becoming more and more popular for those who watch aging parents. Seniors are living longer, remaining healthy longer and wish to stay in their own homes.
The idea behind respite care is for both the caregiver and the family member to have a break from each other and time to rejuvenate. Assisting Hands can answer any of your questions regarding respite care and help you find the best help for your loved one. See our Respite Care services page for more information. Please contact us and let’s find the help you need.