Ways to find care respite for your loved one
Types of respite services
Respite care can take many forms, but essentially means: sharing the responsibility for caregiving and getting support for yourself.
Respite could mean:
- Enlisting friends and family to watch your loved one so you can take a break to visit others, go to the gym or spend an afternoon walking
- Finding volunteers or paid carers to provide in-home services for your loved one, either occasionally or on a regular basis
- Using out-of-home programmes such as adult day care centres, day camps, assisted living facilities or care/nursing homes to provide you with a break and your loved one with the continued care that they need
Planning respite care
While finding and arranging respite care can feel like a lot of work before you start searching, it’s important to remember that respite is not just a service, it’s an effect that comes from taking breaks from the stresses of caregiving.
Plan and schedule frequent breaks: Overlooking your own needs or trying to take on all of the responsibilities of caregiving without regular breaks will only lead to serious health problems such as burnout.
Use checklists to inform respite care providers about your loved one’s schedules, likes and dislikes and offer suggestions for handling any difficult behaviours.
Make back-up plans: Always keep a list of alternate respite care providers and resources. Unplanned emergencies should not prevent you from taking care of yourself.
Evaluate respite care providers often. Observe your care recipient before and after respite sessions. Ask for brief updates and more detailed reports regularly.
Finding respite care
There are a number of organisations that can help find respite care for you, your loved one or both of you:
- Carer's Breaks and Respite Care: NHS services available to UK carers
- Contact a charity such as Rethink Mental Illness or Carers UK