Transitioning Your Senior from Respite Care to Long-Term Care

The desire to be available to your loved ones is a natural feeling, so the question whether to initiate long-term care for them isn't an easy one. Apart from the associated emotional challenges, you may also have to consider complex logistical issues. However, transitioning a senior to a long-term care facility can also be the best decision, as it can improve their quality of life while offering you and other family members peace of mind.

Respite Care vs. Long-Term Care

Respite care is a temporary solution that provides periods of relief to family caregivers. There are two types of respite care: home-based and residential. With home-based respite care, a professional caregiver visits your loved one according to a specified schedule, while with residential respite care, your loved one stays in a dedicated care facility.

Long-term care involves a range of professional caregiving services and supports that aim to help individuals over an extended period. Like respite care, it can be home-based or residential. A home-based arrangement normally involves a team of caregivers working in shifts to care for a client. In a residential setting, the caregiving team includes a broader range of medical and care professionals providing support to a group of clients living together in an apartment-style community. For residential patients with conditions like dementia, it can be beneficial to continue hiring a caregiver to advocate for the patient in these settings, especially for those who may need assistance with daily routines such as arriving on time for meals or managing tendencies to wander.

Understanding the Need for Transition

Recognizing the need for long-term care isn't always straightforward. The strong desire to protect our loved ones can make it difficult to see things objectively, causing us to dedicate more time and energy to caregiving. In these circumstances, we may not realize that we're exhausting ourselves and overlook how we could provide a better care outcome for our loved one.

That's why it's important to reflect on the situation. Below are some circumstances that commonly indicate the time to transition from family caregiving to long-term care:

Your Loved One Has Difficulty With Daily Activities

As your loved one ages, you may notice them struggling with daily activities, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and using the toilet. Some families may be incapable of supporting these care needs. For many family caregivers and their loved ones receiving care, such personal care activities may be beyond their comfort zone.

Your Loved One Demonstrates a Higher Risk of Injury

Falls are one of the most common causes of injury among older adults. Certain strategies can minimize the risk of falling, but family caregivers may be unable to monitor their loved ones frequently enough to prevent all tumbles.

Your Loved One Lives With a Chronic Health Condition

Certain health conditions require greater monitoring to prevent complications. These include:

Cancer.
Dementia.
Diabetes.
Heart disease.
Respiratory disorders.
Stroke.

Formal long-term care providers are better equipped to address these chronic health concerns because of their training, experience, and professional involvement in the client's broader care team.

You and Other Family Caregivers Are at Risk of Burning Out

Caregiving is a demanding responsibility. Over time, family caregivers may feel overwhelmed and experience adverse effects on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When this happens, it's a sign that a family caregiver is at risk of burnout, which can cause them to lose the necessary focus and balance to deliver effective care.

Preparing for the Transition

The first step in preparing for a transition to long-term care is to discuss the prospect with your loved one. Because they're receiving the care, they should be the ones to decide. One of the biggest emotional challenges associated with long-term care is the sense that your loved one is losing autonomy, so approach the conversation from a position of compassion. As you have this discussion, ask whether your loved one would prefer a home-based or a residential care arrangement.

If they prefer home-based care, you might consider preparing the home by installing grab bars, high-friction surfaces, and ramps and removing or rearranging anything that could present a fall hazard. These modifications create a more conducive care setting for the caregiver and a safer environment for your loved one. With that done, you can begin searching your area for qualified in-home care agencies, such as Visiting Angels Asheville.

For residential care, a good idea is to visit different facilities with your loved one and other family members to identify a setting in which your loved one feels the most comfortable and at ease. You may also want to speak directly with staff members to discuss how they approach their client relationships to ensure their values align with yours.

Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Facility

Apart from a place where your loved one feels at home and the staff is compassionate and capable, the long-term care facility you choose should meet at least the following criteria:

Proximity: You want the facility close enough to other family members so they can easily visit.
Reputation: Speak with friends and people in the community to identify well-reputed facilities.
Transparency: When you ask questions during your visits, the answers you receive should seem forthright and genuine.
Payment: As you want to know whether you can cover the costs of long-term care, we recommend asking about payment options and the specific services covered by the care plan.

Managing Emotional and Practical Challenges

The biggest emotional challenge for your loved one may be their perception that following a care provider's instructions or moving into a care facility means losing their independence. Meanwhile, the family might feel guilty because handing over care responsibilities to others may feel like giving up. When these feelings arise, it's important to remind yourself that long-term care means neither a loss of control nor a forfeiture. On the contrary, it enables loved ones to live comfortably and normally while accessing the best possible care.

In terms of practical challenges, you may find yourselves concerned about logistical matters such as moving your loved one's belongings into the facility and arranging regular visits. To handle these concerns, take the time to declutter your loved one's possessions to keep only the essential and sentimental items, and discuss with your family the most suitable visiting timetable.

Find the Support You Need in Asheville, North Carolina

Transitioning from respite to long-term care can be a tough decision. It requires much reflection and discussion, but it's also a step toward ensuring that your loved one receives the best possible care and enjoys the highest quality of life.

If you need insights, advice, or support on the matter, talk with a member of our team at Visiting Angels Asheville. With many years of experience in senior home care, we understand the complexities of caregiving and the emotional difficulties that come with making care decisions. Contact us online or call/text us at 828-665-3944 for the help you need.