Respite Care: What You Need To Know

When you provide care for a loved one on an around-the-clock basis, you can quickly experience caregiver burnout. You are likely not only providing care for your loved one but also juggling work, other family members, home maintenance, health, and many other priorities. This is where respite care can help. The following are some things you should know about respite care and how it can benefit all parties involved:

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care provides a break for those who provide constant care for a loved one. This form of care provides a person to come in and provide the care you normally provide for a period of time to give you a much-deserved break. Respite care arrangements can be made in advance with a respite care provider. Providers can be home health aides, care professionals, or adult daycare providers.

What Does Respite Care Provide?

Your needs will determine the type of care provided through respite care. If you need help with tasks around the home, like laundry or cooking, respite care can help. Respite care can also help provide your loved one with assistance getting dressed, showered, or with other activities of daily life. A provider can take your loved one to medical appointments or provide some basic medical care. A respite care provider can also provide companionship and keep your loved one company while you are away.

Are There Different Forms of Respite Care?  

There are a variety of respite care options to choose from depending on your needs and the needs of your loved one. An informal respite care plan can be provided by anyone, even a friend or family member. If you want a more formalized respite care plan, you can contact an adult daycare provider to get your loved one out of the house and around other people while you take care of your errands. If you would prefer an in-home respite care situation, you can hire a provider through a home health agency either on a temporary or permanent basis.

Caring for a loved one on a full-time basis can be overwhelming and exhausting. It is so important that you take time to take care of the things you need to do, but also to have some time for yourself. If you need help with a loved one, be sure to reach out to a respite care provider near you and ask about the different options available to you.