When you think of assisted living, you probably think of a community that provides around-the-clock care for seniors. While it’s true an older adult can move to an assisted living facility if they need daily care, many communities also offer short-term respite care services. The purpose of respite care for seniors is to provide each family caregiver with temporary relief from their duties, giving them time to go to the doctor, care for children, complete household chores or just relax. But what is respite care for seniors? Learn more to discover how respite services can help your family.

Understanding Respite Care Services

Respite care provides short-term relief for the primary caregiver and additional family members. It may last for just a few hours or as long as a few weeks, giving caregivers time to manage other responsibilities or take a much-needed vacation.

According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, taking time away from your caregiving duties also benefits your loved one. When you’re feeling tired and stressed out, it’s difficult to manage your responsibilities. You may even find yourself feeling a little short-tempered. Taking a break prevents you from allowing important duties to fall through the cracks or getting upset with your loved one if they need extra support.

The main difference between respite care and other types of senior care is that respite care is designed to be temporary. Assisted living communities, nursing homes and memory care facilities usually offer ongoing residential care. Adult day centers don’t provide residential care, but most people attend them regularly, not just when their caregivers need a break.

Types of Respite Care Providers for the Elderly

If you’re interested in respite care, you have three options: in-home respite care, adult day care centers and overnight stays/long-term respite care.

In-Home Respite Care

In-home care is exactly what it sounds like. A respite care provider comes to your loved one’s home and provides temporary care. One of the main benefits of in-home respite care is that your loved one gets to stay in a familiar, comfortable environment.

Adult Day Center

Adult daycare services often provide respite care to give primary caregivers a break. If you choose this type of care, your loved one will go to a local resource center during the day and return home in the evening. Group respite care may include meals, snacks, social activities and medical intervention as needed.

Long-Term Respite Care Facilities

In some cases, respite care may be provided in a traditional senior living community. For example, some assisted living facilities offer this type of care to give local seniors a place to go if their usual caregivers are unavailable. Residential respite care may last for a few days or weeks at a time, giving you extra flexibility.

Benefits of Respite Care for Seniors and Caregivers

As noted previously, some family caregivers experience burnout after caring for their loved ones for long periods. Burnout has several causes:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Not having enough help at home
• Lack of financial assistance
• Inadequate training
• Limited privacy
• Difficulty balancing caregiving with other duties
• Lack of clarity regarding caregiver responsibilities

Respite care reduces the risk of burnout by giving you a break from caregiving. Some family caregivers use this break to catch up on chores, spend time with other family members or take care of major projects, but you don’t need a specific reason to find a provider.

Another benefit of respite care is that your loved one gets to interact with other seniors and care providers. This interaction is a good source of mental stimulation and can help older adults keep their social skills intact.

Respite care also gives seniors a chance to improve their physical well-being. If your loved one has chronic health problems, they’ll benefit from working with nurses, aides and other health care professionals. This type of care also includes support with activities of daily living, helping seniors preserve their independence.

Finding Respite Care Services for Your Loved Ones

The first step is to determine what type of respite care you need. If you just need short-term relief to attend a special event or go to a medical appointment, in-home care is a good option. Your aging loved one may need short-term assisted living or another type of residential care if you need time off to handle long-term responsibilities.

Your loved one might need respite services if any of the following apply:

• You’re overwhelmed by the amount of work you’re doing.
• Your family is concerned about your ability to provide full-time care.
• You’re impatient or irritable.
• You have no social life.
• You need time off to address a personal issue.

When you contact respite care providers, ask plenty of questions to determine which one is right for your loved one.

• Do you have nurses, doctors or other licensed medical professionals on staff?
• What services do you provide?
• What is your average respite care cost?
• How much notice do you need to provide senior respite care?
• Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
• Do you allow visitors?
• What activities do you have available?
• Are your services covered by Medicare, Medicaid or another type of insurance?

Why Choose Chesapeake Manor for Respite Care?

Chesapeake Manor has extensive experience providing respite care to older adults in Maryland. We offer a safe, comfortable environment where seniors can socialize with each other and receive the personalized care they need to thrive. At Chesapeake Manor, the leading assisted living facility in Willards, Maryland, we also have curated outdoor spaces and large common areas where residents can relax and socialize. All private areas and common spaces were designed to meet the safety needs of older adults, reducing the risk of falls.

Another advantage of choosing Chesapeake Manor is that we offer multiple levels of care, ensuring a seamless transition if your loved one’s needs change. For example, Chesapeake Manor offers assisted living, memory care, respite care and end-of-life care, ensuring every resident gets exactly what they need. Once your loved one gets to know our caregivers, they’ll see the same friendly faces if they ever have to transition to another level of care. Every staff member is completely dedicated to providing senior respite care that not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

If you need a temporary break from caregiving, Chesapeake Manor can help. Call 410-835-2427 to find out how our respite services can benefit you and your loved one. You can also schedule a tour online.