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Providing extensive care to an elderly is enormously rewarding. However, there are situations when it can prove to be physically draining too. That’s why it’s essential that caregivers should also take an occasional respite from these responsibilities. As a caregiver, whether you have to run urgent errands for a week or some other important task comes up, taking respite care with MAACG for your elderly friend or relative can help you reduce stress and restore your energy.
Respite care support is equally great for seniors as it enables them to enjoy a wider social network, thus helping them recharge by letting them live with a fresh perspective!
Though there are various respite care options available, you should choose one that aligns well with your elderly’s needs. To clarify this, answer these questions:
- What is your elderly’s need?
- How long will you as a caregiver be away from your elderly?
- Does your elderly need respite care for a few hours a day (till you come back from work) or for a longer period of time (as you’ll be away for a few days)?
- Is it an emergency case or are you preparing beforehand?
Once you have figured out the level of care your elderly actually needs, you can choose from the following types of respite care support for your loved one:
In-Home Respite
This is a simple respite in which a person other than a full-time caregiver comes over to spend a few hours with your elderly. This allows you as a carer to go out and get a break.
Centre Based Day Respite
This provides seniors a chance to go out of their house and spend the day at a center where personalized and group activities await their arrival. These are generally 5-hour long respites allowing seniors to make friends. So while your elderly is enjoying their social life, you can pick up a part time job!
Private Not-for-Profit Respite Care
There are numerous not-for-profit respite care support organizations that aim to improve the lives of the elderly when they feel like their life is over. These services include residential care, home care, housing arrangements, respite care, and transition care.
Not-for-profit respite care organizations also ensure that the seniors availing respite care are able to spend quality time by socializing with their fellow members and indulging in healthy activities such as cooking, gardening, and relaxing.
Since most of the respite care providers are available online, you always have the option to find out more about respite care options by visiting AmanaLiving.com.au.
While selecting a not-for-profit respite care provider for your loved one, look for the one with additional facilities such as spacious rooms, private lounges, and kitchenettes. Your elderly will definitely love these little luxuries!
Overnight or Weekend Respite
This sort of respite care can be provided in the seniors’ own home, at a respite house, or even in the home of the host family.
Community Access Respite
These respites enable seniors to interact with the community which allows them to network with acquaintances, thus providing them a sense of independence. Furthermore, this gives carers a bit of time off.
Residential Respite Care
This respite care occurs in aged care homes over short periods of time. Such respites come in handy especially if you fall sick and need to get well before you are able to take care of your elderly.
Transition Care
If your elderly is expected to be discharged after having a medical treatment from a hospital but may need extra care than usual, then transition care can be a convenient respite care option. This type of care focuses on physiotherapy (this includes exercises to enhance the mobility, balance, and strength of the elderly, occupational therapy (helps in recovering physical ability of the elderly), foot care, speech therapy, counseling, and nutrition assessment.
Wrapping it up
Respite care is a newer phenomenon in the health care industry. Also known as short-term care, respite care support is a highly practical option for both the elderly as well as their caregivers. That’s because it enables the elderly to live a healthy life without having a sense of being dependant on their caregivers. Likewise, this supports caregivers too as they don’t have to feel as if they are bound to stay at home to provide the necessary care to their elderly.
Hence, this win-win solution goes a long way for families seeking care services for their loved ones but want to ensure that their seniors are taken care of in the best way possible.
About the Author
Madeleine Farmer works as a carer, a role she has been in for much of her working life. Rewarding yet also heartbreaking, Maddy uses her writing to express her inner thoughts in a constructive way.