Importance of Respite Care During the Holidays
The holiday season is a difficult time for any family, but the challenges are exacerbated if you're a full-time family caregiver looking after an older adult. This places you at risk of burnout in the best of times, and the strain of the holidays can push you beyond your capabilities.
You don't have to shoulder the burden alone. Respite care services offer the professional support and assistance necessary during the holiday season to ensure that both you and the older adult in your care are supported. Learn more about how you can utilize respite care to avoid burnout and handle the holidays comfortably.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care is short-term care provided by a professional caregiver to allow you a break from your primary caregiver duties. In the United States, there are 53 million family caregivers. A whopping 86% of family caregivers who look after an adult receive no respite. This can leave you feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, which can lead to stress, depression, fatigue, and anxiety. The unfortunate reality is that you invest so much time and energy in providing care for an older adult in the family that you may neglect your own needs.
Respite care provides a skilled caregiver who can step in and offer professional care and support for older adults who need companionship, supervision, and assistance with daily activities. These caregivers are not medical professionals. They're highly trained care providers who know how to handle things such as the threat of wandering in dementia patients or the need for skilled assistance transferring to and from mobility devices. Respite care ensures that your patient is in good hands so that you can take time for your own needs.
What Are the Benefits of Respite Care During the Holidays?
Respite care is an important investment if you're a family caregiver, but this service is even more valuable during the holiday season. The holidays are fraught with unique stressors such as finding gifts, hosting parties, and traveling to visit family. Nearly nine in 10 adults deal with extra stressors during the holiday season, with 58% worrying about holiday budgeting, 40% stressing over finding the right gifts, and 32% struggling with having too much to do. When you place these concerns on top of the daily stressors that come from being a family caregiver, you have a recipe for burnout.
With a respite caregiver to step in and carry some of your burdens over the holidays, you can breathe easier and enjoy benefits such as the following:
- More time for holiday duties: Respite caregivers can come on a repeated basis over the holiday season to give you time for holiday shopping and gift wrapping.
- Freedom for special events: A respite caregiver can come on an as-needed basis to provide care during specific events. This can free you for a morning of cooking before Thanksgiving dinner, a busy day of cleaning ahead of a family Christmas gathering, or an evening out at an office holiday party.
- Time for self-care: If you're a family caregiver, it's important to prioritize your own care, such as a spa day or taking an afternoon nap. Proper stress management will protect your immune system and enhance your health during the winter.
- Opportunities to connect with friends and family: As a primary family caregiver, you may not get the opportunity to connect with friends and other family members. Respite care will help ensure that you can spend quality time with other loved ones over the holiday season.
How Do You Choose Respite Care?
There are three primary types of respite care for adult caregivers. In-home caregivers take over your duties and provide care that's nearly identical to what you would offer your loved one. This is the least disruptive form of respite care because it lets the patient remain at home. Those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia typically feel safer and more comfortable in a familiar environment. An in-home caregiver can provide the same activities, meals, support, and routines in a space that's most recognizable.
Other options include adult daycare centers and residential respite care facilities. Adult daycare centers are beneficial for older adults who enjoy socializing with others. This type of facility provides a safe place for patients to gather and typically has organized activities and events that they can participate in.
Residential respite care facilities can provide longer-term care for one or more nights. While a residential facility does provide a safe place for your loved one to stay with round-the-clock care, this can be disorienting for those with dementia. Many in-home caregivers can stay overnight and provide continuous supervision as well.
When you're choosing a respite care provider, consider the following:
- Whether they can maintain the routines and activities that are most important to your loved one
- If the company or facility has good references and reviews
- How your loved one feels about the individual or location
- The mission and goals of the provider or facility
- How your loved one may benefit from the activities, events, or support available
How Can Visiting Angels Help?
Visiting Angels offers flexible respite care services that are available according to your schedule. We can come on a regular basis to support recurring holiday responsibilities or visit on an as-needed schedule to cover your special events. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about how our Visiting Angels are uniquely qualified to support your family during this busy time of the year.