Respite care services offer relief for the millions of people around the United States who care for family members. When caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s or anyone else who has other forms of dementia, it is an enormous relief when caregivers get some free time for themselves. It’s estimated that roughly 66% of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients are taken care of at home.
Family members suffer not only psychologically but also suffer physically. It’s tough on elderly partners or spouses. They might have other health issues already affecting them, and they need to muster up enough strength to care for someone else.
This article will discuss ways caregivers can get their lives back when they handle their loved ones.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is the assistance given to caregivers to relieve them of some of their load. It’s a way to let them recharge their batteries, take care of other important business, have a night out on the town, or take a short vacation. It can be for a few hours, a day, or even longer.
Some assisted living, and memory care facilities are also equipped to offer respite care and take on temporary residents. Respite care comes in the form of paid help, or there are also volunteer organizations that can help, too. Of course, the most practical assistance can come from family members and close friends.
Caregivers need to take a break. Yet, most caregivers wait until they are suffering physically or mentally before they try and do something about it. This is why respite care is best done at an early stage. Plus, you need to take your time and find people that are a good fit. Not every outside caregiver will be the best for your loved one.
You should understand that your loved ones will probably not want anyone else caring for them. This is a natural feeling and response. You should explain to your loved ones that you are not looking for someone to replace you. Instead, you are bringing along someone to help out now and then.
You are doing the best for your loved one and yourself. You should never feel guilty about the need for others to share the workload.
Respite Care Services for Caregivers
There is a lot of focus on dementia care, but not much attention is given to the effects it may have on the caregivers. One in three caregivers will develop some form of dementia. And as a result, without proper respite care, they may eventually need to give up caring for their loved one with dementia.
So what kind of respite care do caregivers need? This can vary depending on the situation and needs of the individual caregiver. But frequently, it can be helpful for them if they have a break from the day-to-day routine and responsibilities and access to social activities and services that would help them maintain their mental health and physical strength.
Respite Care for Seniors with Dementia
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that more than half of people with dementia need assistance with their care. For people who live alone and do not have any family nearby, this assistance can come from respite care at an assisted living facility.
Most people with dementia will benefit from some respite care. For this reason, some assisted living facilities offer it as part of their services. Assisted living facilities with memory care already have experienced staff to handle respite care for seniors with dementia.
Cost of Respite Care
The cost of respite care depends on where you live and the type of facility you use. The pricing is also dependent on the type of respite care you need and what benefits and amenities are included in that price. The average monthly cost for a senior needing this type of care is $3000, and the cost can reach as high as $6000.
Five Important Hiring Tips
Caregiving for elderly parents is one of the most challenging jobs. It requires a lot of time and patience, which can take a toll on caregivers. It is not easy for people to give up their time for someone else’s family, but it is necessary in some cases.
The need for respite caregiving services is rising in the United States. The reasons for this are many-fold but include a large aging population, increased awareness of dementia, and the cost of living in some areas.
Hiring a respite caregiver can be tricky. You want to find someone qualified for the position, has experience caring for people with similar conditions and makes you feel comfortable.
Here are five crucial respite care hiring tips.
Costs – Learn upfront how much the services are going to cost. Try to discover any hidden charges that there might be, too. You also need to know how they need to be paid (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.).
Responsibilities – Before you begin respite care, you need to have a clear vision of what you want. It’s not fair to start a working relationship on missed communication. So, let them know about the tasks involved.
Scheduling – Make it clear in the beginning what type of schedule you need, or if you only need their services now and then.
Verify – Remember, you are trusting people to come into your house to care for your loved one, or you are sending them to be cared for in another facility. Either way, you need to be sure the service you have requested is genuine, insured, and has a good record of taking care of others.
Emergency Procedures – If something does happen, you need to make sure there are some emergency plans ready. Find out if they have emergency equipment with them or how quickly a response team could arrive if needed.
Five Essential Ideas to Get Your Life Back if You are a Care Provider
Just about every person caring for someone else could use respite care at one time or another. However, there are times where you may have to do most of the work yourself. Here are some proven suggestions to help respite care providers get their lives back when dealing with seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
• Seek Help – The first step for caregivers is to ask for help. There is no way you can accept all of the responsibility of taking care of your loved one. Start asking other family members if they can assist you. Even if you find someone to help out one or two days a week, it can make a difference.
Some people try to suck it up and take on more responsibility than they can. Your family members and other close friends might not even know you desperately need their help. They won’t know unless you bring it to their attention, and you should.
• Hook Up with Like-Minded People – Support groups allow you to listen to others and bounce your ideas off of like-minded people. You will discover that everyone is in a similar situation, and there is strength in numbers. This way, you know you don’t have to go it alone.
Support groups are online and offline. Online groups will give you quick information at your fingertips and help you find people from all across the U.S. or the world. Local offline groups usually have meetings that you can attend weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Groups might meet for dinner or organize other fun activities.
• Deal with Stress – Stress is a silent killer. Stress can take away your appetite and cause you to lose weight or start eating the wrong foods. Stress can also cause depression. In the worst scenario, it can give you high blood pressure or cause a stroke or a heart attack.
Regardless of the situation you are in, you want to keep your life as close to normal as possible. It would help if you continued to visit family and friends. The important part is to get out and have some fun. You need to continue to enjoy your life, or you won’t be able to face the pressure of helping your senior loved ones.
• Stay Fit – Another critical part of getting your life back as a respite caregiver is to stay healthy. Work out at home, go to a gym, or practice other sports. It would help if you had good aerobic and anaerobic exercises. That means you’ve got to work out and run, swim, practice karate, or do 30 minutes of aerobics to make your heart muscle work. You also need to lift weights or do bodyweight exercises to build your strength. Exercising will help you feel stronger when you need to take care of your loved one.
• See Your Doctor – If you aren’t feeling better physically or mentally, you should get a checkup with your doctor. You can prevent many diseases by monitoring your health now and then. Explain to your doctor that you are a caregiver, and tell them a bit about how many hours you are putting in each day. Again, you have to be healthy, or you cannot help when it comes to taking care of someone else.
Respite Care Services – Conclusion
Whether your senior loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, memory loss can be tough on them. However, taking care of them for the long term can be tough on caregivers, as well. Respite care offers you the chance to get away and take care of your personal needs while ensuring that your parent or other family member is receiving the quality care that they deserve.
Applewood Our House understands your needs, and you can contact us or call at (303) 956-9037. Allow one of our experienced professionals to help guide you through the process and find what you need.