What is Respite Care?
Respite care is designed to provide short term care to individuals who require around the clock care, so that their primary care givers can take a break. Caring for someone who is sick or elderly is often an exhausting job with little to no breaks, so it is important for the caregivers to have the ability to take some time for themselves to relax or go on vacation. Essentially, respite care allows caregivers to take the breaks that they need. Respite care can range anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Respite care can take place in the home of the person who needs care, at a nursing home, or at an assisted living facility.
Respite care is provided by skilled professionals who have been trained to care for people that are unable to complete most day to day tasks on their own. These trained professionals will help to ease the concerns of the primary caregiver and ensure that the person being cared for feels safe and secure.
In a home setting, caregivers can help with bathing, changing clothes, eating, drinking, taking medication, exercising, and moving in and out of bed or chairs.
In the nursing home setting, respite care is available 24/7 from a vast team of skilled nursing professionals and specialists that may even include physical or occupational therapists. An assisted living respite stay typically means staying in a fully furnished apartment with the availability of around the clock personal care assistance and medication monitoring.
Emergency respite care occurs when the caregiver becomes ill, must go to the hospital, or has some other type of dire situation that requires them to take time away from the person they are caring for. Respite care can provide security and assistance when the primary caregiver must take a sudden and unexpected break.
Respite care can be beneficial to the caregiver and to the person receiving care. Someone who rarely leaves their home will likely enjoy a change of scenery or to spend time with a nurse. The caregiver will feel refreshed when they return from their break. Caregivers will be able to fully relax knowing that their loved one is being well taken care of.