A lot of patients and carers struggle with a situation where they want to be able to be the primary carer for their parent but can’t. Being a carer leaves you with no time to yourself. Many people often wind up feeling exhausted at the end of the day. Having even a few hours a day when you can forget about all the responsibilities that come with being a caregiver is crucial for your wellbeing as well as the patients.
Respite care is essentially a helping hand for the times when you feel like the two you have isn’t enough. You can choose to have respite care on certain afternoons or during the weekend. This will depend on when you need the care and on your own work schedule. This sort of care can be provided at a facility or at home depending on what you have signed up for.
The cost of respite care is valued on an hourly basis or on a daily basis, which will depend on how much time you will need the care for.
How does it work?
Being there for someone dealing with a permanent condition like blindness or dementia is a seven days a week, 24 hours a day job with no breaks. An option that gives you the chance to step back for a while. You can avoid worrying about what may happen when you are gone. This may be what you need to make it easier on yourself. During this time, the carer you have hired will help the patients with just about everything that they need to do that day. Bathing, exercising, getting in and out of bed, getting ready to go out or having a meal. These are simple tasks that are taken care of while you are away.
Cost
If the costs for respite care looks unaffordable there is also group respite care. This takes place at a facility where there are other patients as well. This could be a better option for someone who wants to socialize. They can be part of programs or talk to other patients.
Breaks
Respite care is a way for the carer to have a change of scene. Meanwhile, the patient can get a professional to look over their situation. It also allows the patient to see more than one face and form a connection with someone else. Dealing with a permanent condition can leave the patient feeling isolated. Introducing new people to their life could help make them happier and more social. Overall, it is an option for anyone who wants the benefits of hiring a carer while still being in the patient’s life on a daily basis.
