What is Respite Care for Elderly Adults?

When you are a caregiver for someone who is sick or elderly, it is not simply a full-time job – it is your life 24/7. This is especially true if the person for whom you are a caregiver lives in your home. Being a caregiver is exhausting, and it is hugely important that a caregiver takes breaks and takes care of themselves in order to stay effective and avoid burnout. This is where senior respite care becomes so important. 

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What Is Respite Care for the Elderly?

Respite care for seniors is essentially a special name for a short-term break for caregivers. Short-term can mean almost anything – a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks. Respite care can take place inside the home, at an adult day center, or in a specialized assisted living facility. There are many options, and they are all designed to support the caregiver. 

How Does Respite Care Work?

Respite senior care can work in a few different ways. For seniors living at home, a home care worker may come to the house. The home care worker is generally (but not always) a certified nursing assistant. They can assist your senior loved one with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. They may also provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, the library, or other social activities.

Many people do not realize that assisted living communities often offer short-term respite care. While in assisted living, the senior will have all the same benefits as the “full-time” residents – daily activities, opportunities to socialize, meals, transportation, and supervised care. There will likely also be medical services on site if needed. It is a great opportunity for your senior loved one to see what living in assisted living will be like if it ever becomes necessary for them. 

Some places have Adult Day Centers. Think of these as community centers for seniors that are open during regular business hours, when the caregivers may be at work. Your elderly loved one gets out of the house and spends the day in a safe space where they can socialize, get help with personal care if needed, and have their meals. The Adult Day Center may also provide therapeutic services like physical or mental exercise, depending on the type of center. 

How Long Is Respite Care?

The length of respite care is really up to the caregiver and the senior’s needs. If the caregiver just needs to run errands for a few hours, respite care is a great option. If the caregiver is going away on a trip for a few weeks, respite care can last as long as needed. Respite senior care is also helpful if your loved one is recovering from surgery and needs more assistance than you can provide while they recover. 

Benefits of Respite Care

Caregiving takes an intense physical and mental toll on in-home caregivers, and breaks are sorely needed for a variety of reasons. Some of the advantages of respite care include:

• A chance to just breathe and reset, keeping burnout at bay
• Time to take care of you, and respite care doesn’t just have to be for productivity like errands, doctor’s appointments, or other family obligations. It can also be for self-care, whatever that looks like for you. 
• Return to caregiving rested and reenergized. 

Don’t let caregiving overwhelm you. Take advantage of respite care programs – many are even covered by Medicaid – and take care of your loved one and yourself.