6 Impressive Benefits to Know When It Comes to Respite Care
When it comes to caring for aging loved ones, most people do one of three things: hire in-home care, use long-term assisted living, or volunteer family members to become full-time caregivers.
Did you know, though, that there’s another option? Known as respite care, it works as an alternative or supplement to many long-term senior care strategies.
What is respite care, and is it something you should consider for a loved one? In this comprehensive guide, the experts from Baxter senior living in Anchorage will break it down and go over some of its biggest benefits.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care is one of the best short-term in-home care alternatives. It’s temporary, full-service, overnight care that you can enroll in whenever one party needs a break. Many people sign up for respite care when:
- The primary caregiver is ill or overwhelmed
- The primary caregiver will be traveling out of town
- When the loved one in care is feeling restless
- They want to try out an assisted living center without committing
At Baxter Senior Living, you can be sure that your loved one will get the highest level of support during their stay at one of our Specialty Care Apartments. We offer both high-acuity and memory care services to ensure that all of their needs are met.
Benefits of Respite Care
It’s easy to see how respite care can support caregivers. However, it can also be extremely helpful for the person receiving care. Here are a few of the largest benefits it provides for all involved parties.
1. Prevent Caregiver Burnout
Burnout is one of the largest challenges caregivers face. No matter how much you love your aging relative, setting aside your needs to care for them day in and out is exhausting. Some of the symptoms of caregiver burnout to watch for include:
- Social withdrawal from friends, family, and enjoyable activities
- Low mood and irritability
- Weight loss, gain, or appetite changes
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Decreased immune system
- Exhaustion and fatigue, both emotional and physical
- Unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol or drug abuse
- Resentment or ill will toward yourself or your loved one
Caregiver burnout is dangerous both for yourself and your aging relative. One of the best things about respite care is that it gives you a chance to ward off burnout before it gets bad. To keep everyone healthy and in good spirits, it’s best to make use of respite services earlier than you think you’ll need them.
2. An Opportunity to Socialize
As you get older and lose your independence, your social circle can shrink dramatically. The same thing can happen to caregivers who find themselves spending all their time with one person and unable to maintain outside relationships. This is a concern because social isolation and loneliness can have serious mental and physical side effects.
Assisted living, even in the short-term, can provide a much-needed social outlet. It gives your aging relative the chance to interact with peers in a safe and welcoming environment, and it gives caregivers a chance to spend time with other friends and family.
3. Helps Maintain Healthy Relationships
One of the most important respite care benefits is its ability to help maintain healthy relationships between caregivers and the person receiving care. As mentioned before, caregiver burnout can lead to feelings of resentment toward your loved one. A bit of distance, even if only for a week, can help everyone refresh their mindsets and return feeling more positive.
4. Renew Your Sense of Identity
When two people spend all of their waking hours together, especially in a caregiver relationship, their individual identities can fade.
One of the lesser-known respite care advantages is the chance for everyone involved to exist independently of each other for a bit. During this time, caregivers can engage in activities they enjoy and invest in self-improvement and discovery. Aging relatives can take advantage of luxurious facilities and top-quality care while participating in senior-friendly activities and events.
5. You Get Expert Short-Term Care
You may have friends and family members who are willing to take over caregiving for a few days while you’re out of town, but are they well-trained enough to provide for your loved one’s needs?
If your loved one has dementia or complex medical needs, you may not be able to leave them in the hands of someone without the proper education. When you take advantage of respite care at Baxter, you also take advantage of the best memory care services and medical assistance around.
6. Helps You Find the Best Assisted Living Community
If you’re on the fence about whether to make the move to full-time assisted living, respite care gives you and your loved one a zero-commitment way to try it out.
Signing up for a short respite stay gives your loved one a chance to learn more about their best options for senior living. They can experience the environment and services provided imagine what it would be like to live there. This is a much more comforting and reliable way to investigate your options than searching Google for “senior living near me”.
Finding the Best Respite Care Services in Your Area
Now, when your loved ones ask you, “what is respite care, and should I consider it?” you’ll be able to give a well-informed response. Even if you’re unsure whether permanent assisted living is the right choice for your loved one, respite care can give you all a much-needed change of pace so you can return feeling restored and refreshed.
If you’re searching for the best assisted living community in Anchorage, look no further than Baxter Senior Living. Our center for senior living in Alaska is the gold standard for respite and long-term care. To find out more about our excellent, high-end services, please give us a call or contact us online today.
