Caregiving can get complicated very quickly, especially when family caregivers are balancing a lot of different responsibilities and needs at one time. That doesn’t mean that they don’t want to be there for everyone they care about, but they’re using finite resources to get a lot done. Respite care is a solution that more family caregivers need to consider, especially when they’re trying to figure out where their needs fall into the mix.
What Is Respite Care for Seniors?
Respite care is temporary care for seniors that allows family caregivers to take a little time away. Family caregivers might take an hour or two for respite time or an afternoon or longer. Respite is provided by professional caregivers who understand what types of assistance seniors may need. These caregivers learn what the senior they’re caring for needs from them and then they fill in for the family caregiver.
Major Benefits of Respite Time
There are lots of benefits of taking respite time and letting home care providers step in for a little while. Seniors and family caregivers both get a break, which can help relieve relationship stress and allows seniors to socialize with someone else for a while. Family caregivers are able to think about something other than caregiving tasks and needs. They can focus on their own needs, rest, and prevent burnout.
How Often Is Respite Necessary?
One question family caregivers may have is how often they should take respite time. There isn’t any one answer, however. The reality is that some family caregivers don’t need a lot of respite time, but others need frequent breaks. None of that means that one answer is better than the other, because it all depends on so many different variables. What works for everyone in the situation is the best answer.
What Do Family Caregivers Do During Respite Time?
Sometimes family caregivers avoid respite care because they’re not sure what they should be doing during that time. As with the frequency, there’s no right answer. Respite time can be spent in any way that family caregivers need. If what they need most is a nap, that’s a perfect thing to do. If laundry has been piling up and they need to tackle that, that might be how respite time gets spent at that time.
Is Respite Really That Important?
Family caregivers need respite time more than they realize. Never getting a break from caregiving duties is unrealistic and can cause real harm for family caregivers. The worst-case scenario is that they burn out and aren’t able to be there for their aging adults the way they want to be, and that’s truly a tragedy. Respite care ensures that family caregivers don’t have to face that possibility.
Learning about what respite care is and how it helps can make it easier for family caregivers to take advantage of this crucial assistance. As family caregivers experience the results for themselves, it can be a lot easier to make time to relax, rest, and recharge a bit.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Respite Care in Lincoln, NE, please contact the caring staff at Caretech today at (402) 697-5121
Caretech provides the best care services for seniors and families throughout Nebraska including Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Norfolk, Hastings, Columbus, Papillon, North Platte, La Vista, Scottsbluff, South Sioux City, Beatrice, Lexington, Chalco, Gretna, Gering, York, and surrounding areas.
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