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Respite Care at Home

Did you know there are nearly 48 million caregivers in the United States caring for someone over the age of 18 [1]? If you’re one of the 48 million and you need a short break or a little extra help, respite care at home may be the perfect solution for you.
What is respite care at home? Why is respite care important? What are the benefits of respite care? Below is what you should know about respite care at home.

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What Is Respite Care at Home?

Respite care at home can be seen as a support system for family caregivers. Other types of in-home care involve professional caregivers doing the majority of the caregiving duties. On the other hand, respite services are given in cases where family members do most of the caregiving on their own.

What Types of Services Are Included With Respite Care at Home?

Usually given on a short-term or temporary basis, respite care may include tasks like:

  • Medication reminders
  • Light housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Meal preparation
  • Assistance with activities of daily living (like bathing, dressing, and grooming)

Why Is Respite Care Important?

Respite care is critically important because it can help prevent or relieve caregiver burnout.

“Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. Stressed caregivers may experience fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Some ways to prevent burnout include joining a caregiver support group and using respite care services.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic [2]:

Caregivers tend to spend so much time caring for others that they fail to care for themselves, but this leads to burnout, which is bad for both the caregiver and the person they’re caring for.

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Passion Home Health Care Solutions is a Trusted Skilled Nursing Home Care Solutions provider in the Danville, South Boston, Roanoke, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, Newport News, Richmond and Vienna Virginia surrounding areas.

Respite Care at Home in Vienna, VA by Passion Home Health Solutions

Types of Respite Care

There are many different types of respite care, but they can be roughly broken down into 4 categories: informal respite, adult day care, residential respite care, and professional in-home care [3].

Informal Respite Care

If you have family members or trusted friends who can step in for a few hours at a time while you run errands or take care of yourself, that would be considered informal respite care.

Adult Day Care

Approximately 4,200 adult day service centers care for a quarter of a million elderly people or those with disabilities or special needs [4]. These services may be held in places ranging from senior centers to church meeting halls to assisted living facilities. Seniors usually spend 6 to 8 hours a day in an adult care center, often while their primary caregiver works outside of the home. Adult day care can also provide socialization for the senior.

Residential Respite Care

Some long-term care facilities have a few beds set aside specifically for short-term respite stays with overnight services. This can be a good option for caregivers who need to travel out of town and want to be sure their loved one always has assistance available.

Professional In-Home Respite Care

Many people find in-home respite care to be more convenient than other types of respite care. Professional in-home caregivers can provide care as needed, whether that’s once a month, once a week, or just in case of an emergency.

What to Look for in a Respite Care Provider

Respite Care at Home in Vienna, VA by Passion Home Health Solutions

If you’re ready to start looking for a respite care provider, be sure to consider these factors suggested by the Mayo Clinic [5]:

  • Are they licensed by the state?
  • What employee screening do they do?
  • Can the agency provide references?
  • How does the agency train and monitor caregivers? Do they offer continuing education?
  • Are the respite caregivers licensed, accredited, and insured?
  • How do they handle expenses and billing? Make sure you understand every fee and service.
  • Will you receive a patient’s bill of rights?
  • Will the respite care provider work directly with you, your loved one, other family members, and health care providers?
  • What procedures do they have in place in case of emergencies?

We can help you find the perfect respite care provider to give you the rest and relief you need. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

What Are the Benefits of Respite Care at Home?

Respite care at home has many benefits, including:

  • Caregivers get needed breaks, so they can rest, run errands, or even take a relaxing vacation to gain the energy they need to continue caregiving.
  • It’s flexible. While you may need to schedule visits in advance, you can schedule as much or as little help as you need rather than committing to a set number of hours each week or month.
  • Seniors get personal attention from professional caregivers. Care is one-on-one and specific to what your loved one needs.
  • It’s there if you have an emergency. Life happens, and when it takes you away from caring for your loved one, emergency respite care can step in and fill in the gaps.

How to Tell When You or Your Loved One Are Ready for Respite Care

Your loved one will likely be ready for respite care when you are. Are you ready for respite care? Ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you have feelings of helplessness?
  • Do you feel resentment toward other family members who could help but don’t?
  • Do you regularly feel physically and emotionally drained?
  • Do you find yourself becoming more irritated about things that didn’t used to bother you?
  • Are you worried that you don’t have anybody you trust to care for your loved one in case of an emergency?
  • Have you been resorting to self-soothing habits like drinking, smoking, or gambling?
  • Has there been a change in your eating habits?
  • Are you neglecting your own health?
  • Is your social life suffering?

Answering yes to any of these questions means you should consider using respite care at home to help relieve some stress. On the other hand, you should also consider whether your loved one’s needs have become more than you can handle on your own, in which case an in-home caregiver may be a better choice.

           

References

  1. Caregiving in the United States 2020, AARP, https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html
  2. Caregiver Burnout, The Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9225-caregiver-burnout
  3. Respite Care 101: The Complete Guide to Respite Care Services for Family Caregivers, Assisted Living, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/adsc.htm
  4. Adult Day Services Centers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/adsc.htm
  5. Home Care Services: Questions to Ask, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609

Are you ready for our personalized, compassionate, and affordable one-on-one senior skilled home care services in Vienna, VA?

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Passion Home Health Solutions LLC
1880 Howard Avenue Suite 301A
Vienna, VA 22182
Phone: (703) 462-9141
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