All right caregivers.
Yes, I’m talking to you – those of you who have doing this for a while,
and those of you who are new to the job.
What I’m about to say has been said before, many times, but it bears
repeating. We all know this is a
rewarding, tough, challenging, maddening, time-and-energy-consuming, wonderful,
crazy-making, exhausting, special task you’ve taken on. We all know that nobody but you can provide
the specialized, loving, unique care that your loved one requires; that only
you know exactly what they need and how they need it; that they will respond
only to you and that you are irreplaceable.
We know this. But guess what? You are replaceable – at least for a short
while – and finding this out may be exactly what saves you and your loved one
later on down the road.
Respite care is simply that, a person, organization, or
facility that assumes care of the care-taker for a brief period of time so that
the caregiver can have a break. Respite
care can be as informal as a family member or friend stepping in for a few
hours, or as formal as a facility taking physical charge of the care-taker for
a few hours to several days. There are
hourly adult day care/health programs in most major cities and there are
usually area facilities that provide short term care. Why is this so important? Because caregivers can’t be everywhere all
the time doing everything. It’s just not
possible. When I was living with Dad in
the earlier stages of his dementia, he went once a week to an adult day program
where he attended a support group for men, was given lunch, and did other
projects and activities. It was good for
him and vital for me to have those few hours to myself. In addition, an old family friend took him
for a few hours each week; they went to lunch and did other activities, walked
her dogs, or worked on her garden, and he loved the interaction.
Studies (and my own personal conversations) show that family
caregivers are reluctant to use respite services, often for very good reasons. Ranging from lack of money for services to
guilt at taking time for oneself to fear that one’s care-taker will be upset or
agitated to fear of bodily harm and abuse – all of these are legitimate issues. However, the reasons to USE respite care are
even better. The most important is that
caregivers who get a few hours a week away from their duties are healthier,
happier, and better able to do their job – it’s a proven fact! In addition, respite activities can provide
outside stimulation and interaction for a care-taker. One of the most important reasons to use
respite care is the fact that there will most likely be problems of some sort
during your tenure as a caregiver that you will have to address – having an established
relationship with a place or person that your care-taker trusts and likes so
that they can be cared for in an emergency can be priceless. I urge you to locate the programs and/or
facilities in your area that provide this type of care – you and your
care-taker will be better off!
Check with these organizations and sites for ideas and
resources for finding care in your area.
The Family Caregiver Alliance runs a
resource center and publishes fact sheets and a newsletter with tips for family
caregivers. The organization can be reached by calling 1-415-434-3388 or
visiting its website at http://www.caregiver.org 
Information concerning adult day
services can be obtained from the National Adult Day Services Association at
(703) 610-9005 or by visiting their website at:
To find out more about programs where
you live, you can contact your local aging information and assistance provider
or area agency on aging (AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the
Administration on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 or http://www.eldercare.gov
) can help connect you to these agencies.
Hi! I notice you have some great info on caregiving and how to get a break from it all. I'd like to ask you a brief question on that, but can't find any contact info. Please email me at mtrucillo(at)recallcenter(dot)com soon. Thanks!
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