Respite care is temporary care for the assistance of the primary caregivers from their caregiving responsibilities of looking after a sick, aging, or disabled family member. Respite home care enables individuals to take a much-needed break and relief from demanding caregiving duties.
Furthermore, respite home care is also meant to prevent a crisis for the family caregiver and care recipient. It is designed in a way to ensure the well-being of not only the family caregiver but also the whole family.
Respite home care becomes necessary in an emergency, to prevent the situation from getting worse. In case a family caregiver gets ill and cannot provide care for other reasons, emergency respite at home becomes imperative.
Whether it’s for only a short period per week or an extended holiday, seeking respite home care can help ease the burden of family caregiving, even if it is only for a few hours or an extended period. It helps to destress, restore your energy, prevent exhaustion or burnout, and promote balance in your life. Not only is respite care can benefit the person you’re caring for, but it also provides them with a change of routine and stimulation.
Types of Respite Care
There are numerous kinds of respite options available, that are provided in different settings. Choosing the best and most appropriate type of respite home care can be daunting, especially when picking one that is most suitable for your loved one.
When picking the best and most worthy respite care, you first need to determine whether to choose in-home respite care or out-of-home respite care.
In-home Respite Care
In-home services are provided by volunteers or paid helpers. They can be hired either occasionally or regularly. These services may last from a few hours to overnight, and may also be arranged either directly or through an agency.
This type of respite home care is a popular choice as it enables your loved ones to remain in the comfort of their own homes while they continue to receive care.
In-home respite services ensure carers that their loved one is in safe hands, and will be well cared for while you are undertaking your respite. Numerous caregivers are available to come to your home to care for your loved one:
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Trained staff
Staff can be hired from home-care businesses and will be available to cover short periods of in-home care for your loved one.
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Personal care providers
These caregivers can help assist with daily living skills, such as cooking, feeding, dressing, or bathing.
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Homemaker services
These services aim to support meal preparation for your loved one and also take care of shopping and housekeeping.
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Skilled healthcare
The caregivers can provide medical assistance to your loved ones, but they require more specialized training and expertise.
Out-of-home Respite Care
Out-of-home respite provides the recipients an opportunity to be outside the home. This helps them to engage in outdoor activities, experience new surroundings, and build relationships with more people.
Numerous private and non-profit programs will provide care for your loved one, whether you’re caring for a senior, adult, or even a child, depending on your location. There are several types of out-of-home respite care to choose from:
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Center-based day respite
Your loved one can attend social and recreational activities in a center-based setting for a couple of hours during the day, through center-based respite care. Choosing a center-based day respite enables your loved ones to go to a day club or respite center for group activities. These centers are staffed by trained respite workers, that will ensure everyone is taken good care of under full supervision.
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Adult daycare centers
These are designed for those caregivers who are no longer able to manage independently, or who are isolated and lonely. There are planned activities that promote well-being via social and health services. Most adult daycare centers are during daytime hours on weekdays and ensure a supportive, safe, and cheerful environment. These centers provide your loved ones with meals and snacks, and also special diets for those who have special medical needs.
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Residential programs
These programs offer temporary care that varies in time lengths. Numerous specialized facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes provide emergency and planned overnight services, that allow caregivers 24-hour relief.
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Caregiver retreats and respite camps
These are only available in a few areas, and it combines respite with education and peer sustenance. These camps can be a positive experience for any individual, as it gives them a chance to participate in various engaging and integrated activities.
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Overnight or weekend respite
A respite care worker will come to stay at your home overnight to look after your loved one, or you can send them to spend the night away from home in a respite house or cottage. A cottage respite sends your loved one to a local place in either your community or to a home of a host family to undertake their respite. This respite usually lasts for 2-3 days.
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Community access respite
A care worker will accompany your loved one to a community-based activity like a social event or outing either individually or in a group. This is also a great option, as it will provide your elderly with a changed setting, and an opportunity to have a social experience and interact with others. The workers at community access respite help them build stronger relationships and connect them with other like-minded people in that community.
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Consumer Directed Respite Care
This is the most convenient respite service that consists of a package of respite services, that is tailored to your loved one’s situation and needs. This includes services that combine in-home respite and allocation for emergency respite.
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Residential respite
You can move your loved one into a nursing home for a short stay to receive care. The workers in residential respite care treat their patients as if they are regular residents of a care home, with the same level of support and care.
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Hospice
Hospice respite is provided in a hospital or other appropriate setting for those who have high care needs.
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Family Care Homes or Host Family
Respite care is offered in the provider’s home. This can be a family day care home, a trained volunteer’s family home, or even a licensed foster home.
