Respite Care Benefits

If you are a caregiver, you probably feel overwhelmed from time-to-time. Whether you have a large patient load or simply need to provide 24/7 care, it can be difficult to find the time to relax. Fortunately, respite care is there to help fill the void. With respite care, you will get a break while someone else looks after your patient. If you don't currently have respite care, but are interested in it, don't worry. There are many different options for respite care, including these four:

1. Friends or Family Members

If you are caring for a friend or family member, you might consider asking a mutual friend or family member for help. This option is usually a good idea, because the person will be getting care from another person that they trust
and love. It's usually fairly affordable too, as most friends or family members will do it for free. However, if they do not have any training you might want to have them enroll in some basic courses, such as CPR and first-aid, to ensure that they can handle emergency situations should they arise.

While having a friend or family member assist you can be beneficial, it probably isn't a good idea if you aren't very close with your patient.
In this situation, you might want to skip this option. Alternatively, you could ask the patients friends or family members for help if you feel comfortable doing so.

2. Companion Care

Another option available for respite care is companion care. In this situation, another professional will enter the home and complete basic tasks. Running errands, taking the patient out, doing housekeeping, and preparing meals are all things a companion can do. In addition, a companion will provide valuable friendship to your patient—and this alone can make it worth it. You can find a companion for your patient by placing an ad, contacting local schools, or asking local in-home care agencies.

3. Personal Care Assistant

A personal care assistant is another option for respite care. As the name suggests, this person will be responsible for providing assistance to you and/or your patient. This person can help with bathing, feeding, and dressing. They can also help administer medications, if they have the proper training. You can find a personal care assistant by talking with adult care facilities in your
area.

4. Adult Daycare

Finally, an adult daycare is another option. Like the name suggests, this is a facility where the elderly go during the day. These facilities often help the elderly with errands and medical trips. They also provide games, food, and other fun activities. This is a great option if your patient is fairly independent. It is also good if your patient is social, as they will likely build friendships while at the facility. You can find these facilities through churches and elderly care facilities.

As you can see, there are many options when it comes to respite care. If you are interested in learning more or would like to partake in respite care, contact a local in-home care agency in your area for more information.