Respite Care is when a carer can take a break from the full-time care for their elderly loved one. This can be for the increased safety of the person they are caring for during an especially vulnerable time such as a hospital trip, or for the carer to be able to take time to look after themselves. There are many options for short term care for your loved ones and it is good to investigate the different options available and make an educated decision on what is better for you, and them.
What types of respite care are available to me?
Volunteer care
It can be possible to find a charity or carer organisation which offers a sitting service. This is where a trained volunteer will be able to look after your loved one for a few hours. This is generally free or possibly incurring a small charge, and this will allow you to attend to personal responsibilities or self-care for a few hours.
Help from family or friends
A family member or a friend may be willing to move in with or have the person you are looking after move in with them for a while.
Paid Carer
If you require respite care for longer than a few hours, for example, you are going away for a day or two and the person in your care requires 24-hour supervision, arranging paid live-in care for that time could be beneficial. This can also be made a regular occurrence depending on the paid carer in question.
Short stay at a care home
Some care homes offer respite care options; these can be full time on a short-term basis or just extra support for a few hours a day. Respite care is offered at Bernash Care Home and can offer a needed break or be a comfortable place for your loved one to recover after a hospital stay.
Benefits of respite care
The benefits of respite care can vary based on where the care is coming from. For example, respite care from family or friends is a low-cost option and it will be care from someone that your loved one likely already knows and trusts which can make the change easier. This may not be the best option for those that are especially vulnerable or need very specific care. With family and friends, it is unlikely that the same level of expert care will be provided that you may find with a paid live-in carer or care home.
The level of expertise and professionalism of care will be extra important if respite care is needed after a hospital stay or for the especially vulnerable. After illness or surgery, your loved one may be disorientated or need regular medications. In this case, a live-in carer or care home stay will be better, as there will likely be a higher level of medical understanding and experience. With most care home stays, you are also guaranteed 24-hour care.
A live-in or paid carer is a good option if your loved one struggles with new locations, and moving around may cause stress. However, if this is not the case, a care home has the benefits of round the clock socialisation and activities to get involved in. At Bernash Care Home, we also pride ourselves on our home from home establishment with a family feel which makes the change as stress-free and comfortable as possible for everyone involved. Respite care at a care home also has the additional benefit of easing the transition into full-time care if this is a future consideration. It can help you understand the quality of care available before committing to a care home for your loved one.
A volunteer carer is also a little to no cost option but is usually only available for a couple of hours and there can be waitlists involved; it is also worth making sure that the volunteer is DBS checked.
It is important when considering respite care to consider all options and find the one that suits you and your loved one best. If you are finding it a difficult choice, then feel free to contact a member of the team at Bernash and we can help with the decision.