Providing care to loved ones can be a round-the-clock, full-time responsibility. While many of us do this because we love them, caregivers are human and it is completely acceptable to need a break at times. This is where senior respite care comes in.
Respite care allows caregivers to entrust the care of their loved one to a professional senior care community for a period of time. Whether this is a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks, you can take time for yourself without feeling like you have neglected your responsibilities.
How Senior Respite Care Helps Caregivers
Less Stress
Seniors who require constant care place a great responsibility on their full-time caregivers. This is enough to stress anyone out. When the caregiver feels like they need to take a break from their usual duties at home, a senior respite care center can provide that means of relief.
Peace of Mind
Many caregivers experience anxiety at the thought of leaving the loved one they care for. What if there is a medical emergency? This can be enough to stress anyone out.
Professional senior respite care centers are designed to provide caregivers with the assurance they can indeed leave their loved one for a time with the peace of mind that their needs are being attended to. There, the senior care recipient can relax in a comfortable environment while the caregiver takes time for themselves.
A Better Home Dynamic
If a caregiver begins to experience burnout, they may start to resent their senior loved one. Similarly, the care recipient may also feel like they have become a burden and not communicate their needs to their caregiver out of fear of stressing them out. This creates an unhealthy home dynamic for both individuals. With respite care, a caregiver can take a break from their usual responsibilities as often as they needed while their loved one is receiving proper attention.
Improved Mental and Physical Health
The stress of caring for loved ones with special medical conditions can prove stressful, especially when it requires daily attention. This added stress can take its toll on the caregiver’s mental and physical health. Respite care offers the caregiver a period of time for themselves to tend to their own wellbeing.
What to Look for in a Senior Respite Care Center
Location
For some caregivers, location matters. Do you want your loved one near home? Perhaps you may want a care center near a hospital in case of an emergency. Be sure to factor in location as you consider options.
Staff Credentials
Are the staff trained to meet the specific needs of your care recipient? Do they have credentialed doctors and/or nurses on staff? Depending on your loved one’s specific needs, this could easily make or break the decision for you.
Facility Features
Does the facility have features that best cater to your loved one? Some features you might want to prioritize could include but are not limited to:
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Single-occupant rooms
- Food service quality
- Private bathrooms
- Supportive features like grab-bars and handrails throughout
Social Activities
Isolation can cause detrimental impacts on seniors. Social interaction is great way to ensure emotional health and cognitive stimulation. Look for a respite care center that will include your loved one in the social activities at their facility as if they were a longtime resident. While you are enjoying your time off, your loved one will too!
Timeframes
Some senior respite care providers only provide a service for short periods of time while others can for months. Find one that can meet your timeframe requirements. For example, if you plan to take a week’s vacation, make sure the respite care center can accommodate a week’s stay for your loved one.
Get Senior Respite Care in Ohio
At Embassy, we strive to provide the best senior respite care possible for our neighbors in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. With several locations in each state, we want to help you get the relief you need and provide the care your loved one deserves. To learn more, schedule a tour of any of our facilities.
