Your elderly loved one may require around-the-clock care, or he or she may only need assistance with basic tasks. Regardless of your loved one’s care needs, he or she can benefit from respite care services.
Respite Care Defined
Respite care is short-term relief for older adults and their families. Seniors can go to adult facilities where respite care is provided, or they can receive the service in the comfort of their homes. With respite care, your loved one will have the full attention of a respite caregiver, increasing safety and lowering the risk of accidents or injuries. This service gives family caregivers a break without putting the wellbeing of their senior loved ones in jeopardy.
Self-Care for Family Caregivers
If you and your siblings are the primary caregivers for your loved one, the responsibilities can be challenging, especially when it comes to schedule conflicts and emergencies. In these instances, you can choose to use respite care for the hours, days, or weeks you all are unable to care for your parent, which prevents him or her from being alone while your family handles self-care needs, including having physical examinations, doing work-related activities, and catching up on rest. Practicing self-care is vital for family caregivers because it can enhance quality of life and prevent caregiver burnout.
Family caregivers sometimes need a break from their caregiving responsibilities. When they need respite care, Lincoln families can rely on professional caregivers to help their senior loved ones remain safe at home.
Separation
Spending a lot of time together is good for seniors and their family caregivers, but at some point, they’ll need a break from each other. The separation allows them to keep their identities and clear their minds. While on a break from one another, you and your parent can get a fresh perspective on life in general as well as your current schedule and caregiving plan. You two may conclude that weekly breaks are needed and choose a respite caregiver on the days you separate.
Companionship
Seniors don’t need to be ill to use respite care. Some adults use the service for companionship or additional help around the home. Having a respite caregiver come over for a few hours or days each week could give your loved one a chance to interact with someone new and stay active. The respite caregiver could promote socialization and encourage your loved one to go on outings in the community or take up hobbies around the home. The social interaction could reduce your parent’s odds of becoming depressed or experiencing other mental and emotional health issues.
When researching agencies that provide home care, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance.
Recovery Services
Older adults recovering from strokes, accidents, or surgical procedures can use respite care instead of going to rehabilitation facilities or nursing homes. High-quality care can be essential to the recovery process. Therefore, you should make sure your loved one has someone around at all times to prevent further injuries or hospital readmissions. Once your loved one gets better, you can then reduce the amount of care he or she needs.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Lincoln in-home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737 to schedule a free in-home consultation.