Taking care of a loved one who’s dealing with cognitive issues can be challenging. The caregiver role can cause a person to feel physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. Respite care can help you rejuvenate yourself.
Let’s discuss what we mean by respite care, how it works, and why it benefits both the caregiver and the patient.
What Is Respite Care?
Most of us have heard of full-time memory care in a living facility. Respite care, which is temporary care for a person with memory loss (or other mental or physical difficulty), isn’t as widely understood. It can be offered in different timeframes and settings, from in-home care to facility care.
Unlike long-term care, respite care is a temporary solution to give a caretaker the chance to rest and relax from the stress of their immense responsibilities.
How Does Respite Care Work?
The caregiver or another loved one usually reaches out to a respite care provider to begin the process. From there, the provider does an assessment on the patient to understand their needs. For example, do they need help bathing and getting dressed? Or do they just need a companion to ensure their safety?
Once the patient’s needs are clear, the caregiver and respite care provider come to an agreement on where the care will take place, how long it will last, the services it includes, and what it will cost.
Communication is vital to setting up a successful respite care protocol. Caregivers should always share detailed information about the patient to ensure the provider meets all their needs.
Once the respite period is over, the caregiver transitions back to being the main caretaker.
Benefits of Respite Care
The caretaker and patient can reap plenty of rewards from respite care.
The caregiver can:
- Rest
Caretaking is difficult. Having the chance to sleep, unwind, and de-stress helps you regain your physical and mental energy. - Seek self-care
Caregivers often postpone doctor appointments, hobbies and vacations. Handling these things is easier to do with respite care assistance. - Avoid burnout
Pushing through caregiving with no breaks can cause you to burn out, get sick, and become unable to perform your responsibilities. Respite care keeps your well-being intact.
The patient can:
- Receive better care
A mentally and physically rested caregiver is more patient and helpful than an exhausted one. - Stay safe
With trained staff and a secure setting, patients are safe from harm in respite care. - Interact socially
Many respite care programs give patients a chance to engage with other people, which can stimulate their cognitive function.
Respite care can be a crucial piece of the caretaking puzzle and give caregivers a chance to rest and recharge their bodies and minds. Taking refreshing breaks helps caregivers continue providing a supportive, safe environment for their loved ones with memory issues.
If your loved has reached the point of needing long-term memory care, our Desert Diamond Memory Pavilion provides a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle tailored to meet the needs of patients with cognitive issues. Learn more about its features and amenities today.