Being a caregiver is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be incredibly stressful. It can lead to exhaustion, fatigue, and even health problems for the caregiver. Fortunately, there are ways to manage the recipient's needs without burdening yourself. One of these is respite care, which offers short-term professional care options so that your loved one can take a break or when they need temporary alternative care plans.
Respite care is a type of temporary care, provided by professional caregivers, organized for a client while their family caregiver is away. It can last from a few hours to weeks and can be a one-time or regular service. It's important that your loved one is informed of the new agreement and involved in the process whenever possible. When looking for respite care services, it's important to be careful and hire only reputable home care professionals, such as AmeriCare.
Established home care services can help your loved one feel safe and comfortable during the change and provide peace of mind for everyone involved. The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) seeks to improve the quality of life of caregivers through education, services, research and advocacy. Through its National Caregiver Center, the FCA provides information on current social issues, public and care delivery policies and provides assistance in the development of public and private programs for caregivers. Foster care is another option for caregivers who need to take time to fully recover without interrupting their loved one's care routine.
Every caregiver needs a caregiver, someone who will care for your loved one for a few hours, days or weeks so that you can take care of yourself.
