Caring for an aging loved one with complex needs can feel like a full-time job—or a 24/7 commitment. In fact, you might be one of 40+ million Americans providing unpaid elder care. What happens when you need to run important errands, go to a business meeting at the office, take a vacation, or need a breather? Where can you turn?

When the weight of responsibilities becomes overwhelming and you need a breather or temporary relief, a home care agency, like Visiting Angels, can step in and provide professional in-home assistance.

You’ll gain peace of mind knowing your loved one is in capable and experienced hands—even for a brief time.

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care is short-term or temporary home care that offers a much-needed break from your primary caregiver duties. With the support of an experienced care provider, you'll have time to focus on work, attend to personal tasks, and connect with other loved ones.

Respite care can also help recharge your batteries and reduce the risk of “caregiver burnout," which can occur when the stress and emotional strain of care responsibilities becomes overwhelming.

Short-term senior care can provide an immediate positive impact. If you need to rest and recuperate, Visiting Angels can provide in-home services while you focus on your well-being. If your daily or weekly caregiving routine has become too demanding, our dedicated caregivers can conduct regular respite care visits to lighten your load.

Get Started with Respite Care

We offer flexible respite care planning and scheduling that’s customized specifically for your loved one and family. Our trained and trusted caregivers can handle many daily tasks, including:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Grooming
• Medication reminders
• Laundry
• Light housekeeping
• Meal planning
• Meal preparation

We also offer companion care, personal care, and specialized memory care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia conditions. Contact a Visiting Angels home care location near you to request more information. We make it easy to find the right services and care provider for your loved one, starting with a free home care consultation.

Fast-Track Services Are Available
Your local Visiting Angels agency may be able to assist when home care is needed on short notice. In most cases, a care coordinator can fast-track the planning and scheduling process and will do their best to ensure a caregiver is available for your loved one.

You can usually schedule services for a few hours or overnight to a few days or longer. Visiting Angels caregivers can also perform in-home assistance routinely on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.

Contact us or call 800-365-4189 to request more information about our respite care services.

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FAQs About Respite Care

Do I Need to Hire Respite Care Services?
No matter how overwhelmed, exhausted, or strained you become, you may resist the idea of respite care. This often stems from feelings of guilt. By hiring outside caregivers, you may feel you’ve failed your loved one in a time of great need.

Here’s another way of thinking about this issue: If you are constantly stressed and exhausted, you’ll be less patient with your loved one, more prone to mistakes, and at an ever-greater risk of total burnout. Respite services will make caregiving more manageable and give you time to care for yourself.

Ultimately, that’s one of the best things you can do for your loved one.

Will My Loved One Get the Same Level of Care?
You know your loved one better than anyone else. So, you might worry that a respite caregiver won’t provide the level of care you do. For our clients, that concern disappears when they see a Visiting Angels professional caregiver at work. We take extraordinary pride in our work, approaching clients with a remarkable level of care, respect, and compassion.

Helpful resource: What Are Qualities of a Visiting Angels Caregiver?

How Will Caregivers Respond to My Loved One’s Unique Needs?
Caregiving is extraordinarily personal. Every care recipient has unique needs, limitations, and preferences, so it’s important that care is customized on a person-to-person basis. We will personalize your loved one’s services and match them with a caregiver to support their needs.

Can My Family Afford Respite Services?
Respite services, like other types of home care, are typically provided by the hour. While hourly rates and minimum visit lengths will vary from agency to agency, this will give you financial flexibility when scheduling care. Most agencies will happily work with you to minimize care costs where possible.