Respite Care for Caregivers

Respite When Needed

We already know that caring for a loved one can be a difficult job. Caregivers often pay more attention to the needs of the dependent family member than they do to themselves. The results can be hazardous. But a decline in a caregiver’s health that includes depression as well as other stress-related ailments can be reduced or even avoided.

My research points to a variety of solutions for the caregiver. The most obvious one, however, is respite – time away from the ongoing concerns caregivers face. Getting a break from these duties can offer valuable time to replenish and recharge. But this may be the most challenging task to achieve.

Why Is Respite Care Complicated?

For two very understandable reasons: Caregivers must find a replacement before they can take time off for themselves and they must be able to afford replacement professional care if that is what is required. There is no getting around the fact that choices will be based upon how these conditions can be met.

In some instances, family members or friends may be able to come sit with a loved one for an afternoon, an evening, a day. This could allow for the caregiver to take a night off, see a concert, attend a lecture, or engage in some other rewarding and personally satisfying activity. An arrangement of this nature, if set up on a regular basis, could provide a much-deserved, regular break.

In-home health care services are also an option. These professionals can provide meals, companionship, and, if qualified, medical care. Obviously, cost will be a factor. But before rejecting that option, find out if Medicaid/Medicare funding could help alleviate the cost.

The Final Hurdle

Perhaps the largest obstacle caregivers face is the ability to admit they need to take a break. In a society that values perseverance and self-sacrifice, it is not easy to understand - often until it is too late - the value of stepping back and catching one’s breath.

Caregiver burnout is real. According to Caring.com’s senior medical editor Ken Robbins, "Caregivers can become so focused on the person they're assisting that they neglect their own needs." He adds that caregiver burnout can interfered with a caregiver’s ability to make good decision for a loved one as well as for one’s self. In fact, it has been noted that caregiver distress may lead to the inability to take care of a loved one. As a result, dependent family members may end up being placed in nursing homes.

To help caregivers determine their level of stress and their need for respite care, Caring.com has developed a caregiver burnout quiz. To take the quick test, click here.

J. Dietrich Stroeh is author of Three Months: A Caregiver’s Journey from Heartbreak to Healing (FolkHeart Press) and three free ebooks. For more information, click here.