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Respite Care Spells Relief for
Stressed Out Caregivers
By Peter Ganther
Caregivers who take care of someone
in their home must deal with the needs of their loved
one 24 hours a day. Most are reluctant to ask for
help—even from siblings and other relatives—so they end
up carrying the burden all by themselves. Sometimes the
stress level reaches the boiling point. The only way to
keep this stress from debilitating you, the caregiver,
is for you to catch a break. Respite care might just be
the relief you need.
Respite care provides a temporary relief to the primary
caregiver from the rigors of continuous care. It is not
meant to replace any specialized services; it is similar
to a babysitting service. This temporary relief can be
on a regular, as needed, or emergency basis. Think of it
as an integral part of your overall support system.
Personal hygiene tasks, housekeeping, companionship,
meals, and daily living activities would all fall under
the title of respite care; skilled nursing services and
medication disbursement would not. The caregiver and the
respite care provider will get together and discuss the
type, frequency, and lengthy of care given. Respite care
may be a few hours a week, a weekend, or even longer for
vacations. Whatever the case may be, it needs to be
arranged at least three to five days in advance.
Respite care providers can come to your home, your loved
one can go to their home, or they can meet somewhere
else like an adult day care center. All respite
caregivers are trained in dealing with people with
disabilities, but medical and behavioral problems may
require specialized caregivers. The cost of respite care
is based on annual income.
Respite care can provide the primary caregiver with time
to do grocery shopping, go away for a weekend, or even
take a much-needed vacation. To quote an American icon,
“It’s a good thing.” We can’t do this all by ourselves,
we need to set up a system of support and rely on it. If
you don’t get a break every so often you may be the next
person receiving care.
Copyright © 2002 Today's Caregiver magazine
available through caregiver.com 1 800-829-2734
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