Like everybody else, caregivers too need a break. Respite care facilities play a very important role in providing caregivers a short-term break from the demands of caregiving a family member. Respite care can take the load off your shoulders while you can go for a vacation, meet your professional or personal commitments or just be yourself for a while. Respite care can be arranged for a few hours, a few days or weeks depending on how long the primary caregiver is gone for. There are several forms of respite care services available. Choosing what suits your family and the needs of the person requiring care can be a bit difficult. Some respite care facilities provide overnight care while some can take care of your loved one for a few days. Some care homes may align with your needs more than others.
Here are a few tips on finding respite care that suits your needs:
- Ask friends and family friends: Friends and family members can pitch in to take care of your loved one if you want to run an errand or go on a vacation for a few days. Having a known person around in the known atmosphere of the home usually makes it easier for your loved one. Moreover, seeking care at home does not require you to get your loved one to adjust to a new setting.
- Decide what care you need: As there are various kinds of respite care facilities available you have to decide whether you want in-home services provided by a volunteer or paid help or you want your loved one to get care at an adult day centre or respite care home.
- In-home services: In-home services can last for a few hours or overnight and it may be directly arranged through an agency. This is quite a popular choice as your loved one doesn’t have to leave the comforts of the home and yet they continue to receive care.
- Adult day care centres: If you think your loved one will be bored in your absence or you just want a change of scenery for your loved one, adult day care centres are good options. Day care centres are non-residential facilities which provide a planned program of activities for older adults in a professional care setting. There are several activities planned throughout that keeps older adults busy and entertained while they continue to receive health services.
- Residential programmes: If you are planning to go away for days or weeks, then a residential programme can offer temporary care. These centres are usually equipped to deal with different types of medical emergencies and other exigencies.
- Combine your choices: You don’t have to stick to one form of respite care. You can take advantage of all forms of respite care services depending upon your changing needs. If you will be gone for a few hours, you can hire professional respite care givers. And, if you will be gone for weeks, you can opt for a respite care home which can temporarily take care of your loved one in a professional setting.
Make sure the respite care home you choose has an automated medication administration
Your loved one will be staying in a respite care home for a short term and it would be challenging for caregivers to have a thorough understanding of the patients’ medical condition and medicines. Make sure the respite care home you choose for your loved uses eMAR, a software app, that will acquaint the caregivers at care home with the patients’ medical records without the hassle of going through the paperwork.
