In the United States, 16.8% of people provide unpaid care for an aging loved one. Family caregiving can take a major toll on individuals, especially those balancing caregiving responsibilities with a career or raising their own families.
But what if there was a way for caregivers to take a break from their responsibilities? Respite care does exactly that; it temporarily relieves family caregivers from their responsibilities.
In this article, we'll discuss what respite care looks like, why it's important, and how you can find respite care near you.
If you already know what respite care is and need to find services in your area, you can use LTC News's Long-Term Care Directory. Our tool can help you search through and compare thousands of providers so you can make the best choice about respite care services in your or your loved one's area.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care is a form of short-term caregiving services that give family caregivers, also known as informal caregivers, a break from their caregiver duties.
Respite care comes in many different varieties. It's defined as any care service that can help give an informal caregiver a break. For example, respite care could include:
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Daytime help provided at an adult day care center.
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Overnight stays at long-term care facilities.
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A different loved one or family member stepping in to provide informal care.
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Having a professional caregiver visit your loved one’s home a few times a week.
It basically takes the pressure off of a primary caregiver by introducing other professional or informal caregivers to temporarily take over caregiving duties.
Respite care is flexible and varies greatly depending on your and your loved one's situation. It can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the severity of your situation.
There's no one-size-fits-all for respite care. Some family caregivers may choose an adult day care center, where they can send their loved one during the day and take a break for a few hours.
Others may feel more overwhelmed and need to take a prolonged break from caregiving. These caregivers may choose an overnight stay option, where their loved one temporarily lives in a long-term care facility while they take time to recover from prolonged stress.
Still, some may choose to have other family members or informal caregivers fill in the gaps. At the same time, others may reach out to professional in-home caregivers to care for their loved ones a few times a week.
Respite care provides help with activities of daily living and supervision, along with other associated long-term care tasks. It works similarly to regular long-term care services; the only difference is that the intention is to be a temporary solution that gives informal caregivers a break.
Does Your Loved One Need Respite Care?
The decision to start respite care is a personal one, and only you and your loved one can decide if it's the right choice. Respite care has incredible benefits; however, many informal caregivers struggle with feeling guilty about needing a break.
It can be difficult to communicate with your loved one that you're feeling overwhelmed or considering a break. Many family caregivers worry about hurting their loved ones' feelings by handing off care to someone else, even if it's only temporary.
Some informal caregivers may believe that they're the best care option for their loved one. They may have doubts about someone new providing the same high-quality level of care that they do.
All of these feelings and concerns are valid; however, those worries shouldn't stop you from considering respite care, especially if you're struggling. It's normal to feel tired and stressed every now and then, but it's crucial to be able to recognize when that tiredness has become too much.
Prolonged pressure and stress can lead to caregiver burnout. Burnout is when you're so exhausted from your responsibilities that it begins to affect other areas of your life and may cause symptoms similar to those of depression or anxiety.
Below, we've created a list of burnout and stress symptoms you should look out for as an informal caregiver:
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You're getting bothered, annoyed, or frustrated easily by things that previously didn't bother you.
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Your personal health is taking a back seat to your loved one's needs.
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You're starting to feel more depressed or losing interest in things that previously made you happy.
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You're resentful towards other family members who could help you or resentful of your loved one who you're caring for.
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You don't trust anyone else to care for your loved one properly.
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Your sleeping habits are changing, either sleeping more or not being able to sleep as much or as well.
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Your responsibilities are starting to take a toll on your relationships.
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It feels difficult to discuss your struggles with others or with your loved one.
If the symptoms in the list above sound familiar, then you could be suffering from caregiver burnout. Respite care can provide relief from these symptoms and give you the opportunity to take time to recenter yourself.
There is one exception to this: sometimes, no matter how much rest we get or how hard we try, our loved one's care needs may be more than we can manage.
In these circumstances, looking for professional care services may be the only solution. It's okay to admit that it's too much for us to handle and look to professionals for help.
What Are The Benefits of Respite Care?
The job of an informal caregiver can be demanding, especially for caregivers with full-time jobs or raising kids. So many caregivers find themselves taking care of their aging parents while managing their own families, friendships, and work responsibilities.
As if the stress of juggling so many things wasn't enough, caregiving itself can also be exhausting. It's difficult to watch someone you love suffer or need help with things they could do easily in the past. Coping with that changing dynamic can be difficult.
Respite care can provide the space needed to process our emotions and accept the new realities of our situations. But these aren't the only benefits for informal caregivers; other benefits include:
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More time for hobbies.
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Reconnect with family and friends.
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Downtime to recenter, relax, and prioritize mental health.
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Time to create a plan of care for the future.
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Availability to join and attend caregiving support groups and other caregiver support resources.
However, respite care isn't just for informal caregivers; it can also benefit care recipients. When your loved one receives respite care, they're getting personalized care services from trained professionals. These professionals may have new or specific recommendations or solutions that may help your loved one cope with specific symptoms of their conditions.
Some versions of respite care, like adult day services, can also be very beneficial for older adults who are isolated. At an adult day care center, your loved one can interact with and make friends with other seniors in a safe environment. This new companionship can help your loved one feel less lonely and reduce any symptoms of depression or anxiety, all of which are common struggles for aging adults.
Lastly, respite care provides both patients and caregivers with the opportunity to take some space. As much as we love our families, it's not uncommon to get on each other's nerves from time to time, especially if we're feeling stressed from other areas of our lives. Taking time apart can help us appreciate each other more and give us the space we need to maintain a healthy and happy relationship despite caregiving struggles and demands.
How Much Does Respite Care Cost?
The cost of respite care varies greatly depending on what care services you choose. In-home respite services or adult day care centers are generally the most affordable options. In contrast, options involving facility care or overnight stays are typically more pricey.
For information on how much specific care services cost in your area, you can use LTC News's Cost of Care Calculator. This calculator tool can help you learn about and compare the median cost of care in your state or city to the national average. You can also use it to plan for future care needs and see how much care is estimated to cost in a few years or even decades.
How To Pay for Respite Care
There are several ways to cover the cost of respite care. Long-Term Care Insurance covers these services including, adult day care centers, overnight stays, and in-home caregiving services.
Long-Term Care Insurance covers all custodial care services, which is care that helps with activities of daily living or provides supervision. Getting a Long-Term Care Insurance policy can be a great way to plan for your future care needs and protect your assets, income, and savings.
However, if you already need care, it's not possible to qualify for a new Long-Term Care Insurance policy. This payment method is something you can only utilize if your loved one in need already has a Long-Term Care Insurance policy.
If your loved one is eligible for Medicaid or Veterans Affairs benefits, then those could also help cover personal care costs associated with respite care services.
Programs like Medicare or traditional health insurance policies do not cover personal care services, but they will cover skilled medical care.
Some areas may also have a respite care program to help cover the costs. You should check with your local senior or community center to see if your area offers any financial assistance.
How To Find Respite Care Near You
One of the easiest ways to find respite care near you is through the LTC News Caregiver Directory. You can use this tool to find the highest quality respite care in your area or any other type of care. Our tool includes respite care, home care, assisted living, nursing homes, community-based care options, and more.
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Care Directory
Comprehensive caregiving & care facility listings in your area
- Find and contact facilities near you
- Every major care and facility type
- View facility ratings and amenities
- Find quality care for you or a loved one
In addition, you may also be able to find local respite care resources at your community’s senior center. You should also see if your area offers any caregiver support groups or similar resources. Connecting with others with similar struggles can help you cope with and process your circumstances.
Understanding and Utilizing Respite Care
Respite care is a highly beneficial, temporary relief service that gives informal caregivers a break from their caretaking responsibilities. There are many different types of respite care, including adult day care, in-home services, or overnight stays.
Many informal caregivers struggle with burnout, especially those managing their care responsibilities on top of a career. Respite care provides a necessary break to help individuals recover and feel less overwhelmed or stressed. It can also benefit care recipients by providing them with specialized professional services and allowing for easier social interaction.
Respite care is flexible, and the cost of care can vary greatly depending on the extent and length of the services. Luckily, there are many ways to cover respite care services, including Long-Term Care Insurance, Medicaid (for eligible individuals), and local financial assistance resource programs.
Regardless of how intensive your loved one's care needs are, you may benefit from a temporary break. Even just to take more time for yourself to catch up with friends, relax, or participate in your favorite hobbies.
LTC News has several other resources on informal caregiving, including:
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How To Balance Caregiving Responsibilities and a Career – Caring for a loved one is hard enough, but your struggles may be amplified when you're trying to balance a career and your caregiving duties. This article offers some tips on how to cope with the pressure of full-time work and caring for an aging loved one.
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How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver – Family caregiving can be mentally and physically taxing, and it can also drain your savings or income. However, there may be options to get paid as a family caregiver.
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Caregiving 101: Types of Caregiving and Selecting a Caregiver – Caregiving is a broad term that describes many different types of caregivers and care services. In this article, we'll explore all the different possibilities with caregiving so you can choose the best care option for your loved one.