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How Respite Care Helps Seniors

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a piece of paper with two check boxes saying yes or no. The question is asking "respite care: do you need it?"

Caring for a loved one can be fulfilling, but when you have a job, children, or other commitments, performing care duties all the time can lead to burnout. Taking advantage of professional help on a temporary basis can be a much-needed relief.

Choosing respite care for your loved one can be a break for the caregiver, but it also benefits seniors. Access to professional care staff, fun activities and events, and a comfortable, welcoming community can offer a restorative experience for your loved one.

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care is a short-term residence in assisted living with comprehensive care for seniors. If your loved one isn’t ready to transition to full-time assisted living, respite care can be a stepping stone. 

Respite care can help family members fill the gaps in their caregiving. After surgery, medical procedures, or other instances where your loved one needs more attention than usual, respite care and professional caregivers can help when family members feel out of their depth.

Primary caregivers are at risk of burnout, so respite care is also available so they can take a break to recharge. Caregivers take on a huge responsibility when they’re in charge of a loved one’s care, but sometimes taking a break is the best thing you can do for the senior in your life.

How Does Respite Care Benefit Seniors?

Supplementing home care with respite care can enrich seniors’ lives and prepare them for the next phase of their life. The benefits respite care offers seniors can be what they need to trust assisted living. 

A senior woman is feeling happy with her new respite care professional.

Provides Socialization

Even with frequent visits from family caregivers, seniors can still experience feelings of isolation. Seniors who need more care find their social circle becomes increasingly smaller.

In respite care in the senior living community, seniors can meet other people with similar interests and experiences and connect with people from different walks of life. Even temporarily, being a part of the community allows seniors to forge new friendships with other residents.

Socialization has several health benefits. Social isolation is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and dementia. When your loved one socially engages with others, they benefit their health.

Improves Connection with Family Caregivers

Caregiving can switch family members’ roles. If the younger generation takes care of their parent or grandparent, it can alter the relationship. From managing their medications, driving to appointments, or giving instructions, it’s easy for the caregiver to take on the parental role.

Parents are used to taking care of their kids, no matter their age and the shift can be tough on both parties. Respite care allows caregivers to step out of that role and reconnect with their loved one as a family. When you leave the caregiving to the professionals during respite care, you can re-establish the parent/child bond.

You can make new memories together and cherish the moment instead of occupying the roles of the person in need of care and caregiver. 

Offers a Change of Scenery

Seniors may struggle as their world shrinks. The places they go and the people they see become limited, and they can feel bored. Moving your loved one into respite care can be a positive change of scenery.

Senior care communities offer cognitively stimulating activities such as games or crafts and events like movies to keep seniors engaged.

Expands the Caregiving Team

One person or family can’t do all the caregiving alone. Professional assistance in respite care can be another source of support for your loved one.

Experienced respite workers can help navigate challenges your loved one is having and trained staff can spot signs of decline that a family member might not know to look for.

When Should You Consider Respite Care?

Respite care can be a valuable resource, and you might want to use it if you care for someone with a serious condition, such as:

  • Cancer
  • A stroke
  • Dementia or Alzheimer’s
  • Vision or hearing loss
  • Parkinson’s or other neurological conditions

If your loved one feels isolated, respite care can open them up to socialization, new friendships, and new stories. If caregiving is changing your relationship, respite care can reinvigorate your dynamic.

Caregivers also need a break, and choosing respite care for your loved one while you reconnect with yourself will benefit them too.

Choose Respite Care for Your Loved One

Accepting help from respite care can encourage you and your loved one to reconnect as a family and as individuals. As your loved one’s needs change, you can both benefit from the support offered by our professional staff.

Schedule a visit to learn more about respite care and how the community can benefit your loved one.

Ryan Donahue

Written by Ryan Donahue, Regional Vice President

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