Finding Respite Care for Individuals with Disabilities: What You Need to Know

If, like most caregivers, you accepted the role of family caregiver without any formal training, respite care can provide a new set of eyes. It's not reasonable to expect you to be an expert and know everything about your new role. Asking for temporary care from other people, especially people with previous experience or professional training, can give new life to your daily routine and can give you advice on different ways to take care of certain care tasks. Respite care outside the home is also called respite care in a facility because it is provided outside the home, such as in a residential care facility, nursing home, adult day care, or relief camp.

Residential care facilities, such as nursing homes or care facilities for people with dementia, provide safe, supportive and stimulating care during the day and night. Children and adults with disabilities often prefer rest camps. This type of care is perfect for patients who prefer a change in their environment and landscape. This change in environment and setting allows patients to experience a new environment, different expectations, relationships with peers, and cognitive and emotional stimulation. For older people, one way to find respite care is through the Administration on Aging's elderly care locator.

Caregivers can schedule respite care from a few hours to several days or weeks, depending on their needs. Because of their daily routine, temporary home care allows them to take a short break and attend to their personal needs or issues for a certain period of time. Or maybe you feel like it's wrong of you to get tired of caring for a loved one, especially if you're a parent caring for a child. It usually doesn't cover periods of rest from one day to the next, but long-term care policies and programs for veterans can subsidize the cost of care. Understanding your needs, selecting the right type of respite care, and choosing the right provider can ease the stress of having to leave the reins of caring for your loved one. The Tennessee State Department of Mental Health (26% of Substance Abuse Services) has a temporary care program for caregivers of children with serious emotional disorders. Therefore, if the person needs regular assistance involving two people, such as using an elevator, the family caregiver will have to request an additional assistant, doubling the cost of respite care.

Or, foster care may involve finding volunteers or paid caregivers to provide home services to your loved one, either on an occasional or regular basis. It's not uncommon for long-time family caregivers to finally seek respite care and then find a void in their lives. The Department of Veterans Affairs states that if you are a veteran enrolled in the VA health benefits package, you have the right to receive respite care. This example of temporary care centers outside the home is effective in rural areas because it ensures a supervised environment for children. Respite care can be done in your own home, in daycare centers, or in residential or nursing facilities that offer overnight stays. Temporary home care provides much-needed temporary rest for primary caregivers who are also parents, children or friends of the sick loved one.

Respite care provides temporary relief to the primary caregiver allowing them to take a much-needed break from the demands of caring for a sick elderly or disabled family member. Adult patients and children can receive high-quality respite care while in a family environment with familiar people. When looking for respite care options it is important to consider all available options and determine which one best suits your needs. It is also important to research any potential providers thoroughly before making any decisions.

Additionally it is important to understand any potential costs associated with respite care as well as any insurance coverage that may be available. Finally it is important to remember that respite care is not just about taking time off from caring for someone but also about providing quality time away from home that can help both caregivers and those they are caring for recharge and relax.