Understanding the Benefits and Cost of Respite Care in Lincoln

When you have a parent or aging relative come live with you, it is understandable that you want to do everything for them. It can feel like it is your turn to take care of them the way they took care of you when you were a child.

Still, though, as much as you try, you cannot be with them 24/7. You have work, kids, other responsibilities, and other things you want to do. And sometimes you just want a little mental health break. 

For some people, there is guilt involved with this everytime they cannot be there for their aging loved one. The truth is, though, that you do not have to shoulder all of the responsibility for their care. In fact, you shouldn’t. 

Think of an airline: Sometimes, you have to put on your own mask before you put on anyone else’s. 

Your loved one still needs assistance when you aren’t there, though. So, what can you do? 

Let’s talk a little bit about respite care. 

Defining Respite Care

Respite care is "short-term or temporary home care that provides much-needed relief or a break from a primary caregiver’s duties." In other words, it is help you can get when you need it instead of fulltime. 

When you put your family member into a nursing home or get them other assisted living, it is often fulltime care. However, if you can be there for your parent or other aging relative for a lot of the time they need you, you - and your wallet - may prefer to be the one to care for them when you can. In this case, you might need some supplemental help to fill in the gaps that you or another relative cannot cover.

This is what we mean by respite care. 

Reasons for and Examples of Respite Care

There are many reasons you may want to consider respite care:

• Caregive burnout: It’s okay to admit that you sometimes have more being asked of you than you have to give. When you reach the point where you cannot do more for your loved one without breaking, you need to take a break. Respite care can help you stay mentally fit to be a caregiver. 
• Disability care: Sometimes, especially when a disability is involved, you may not physically be able to do some tasks or you may not have the training to do them right. In this case, respite care might be able to help you with the tasks that you cannot perform. 
• Other obligations: If your loved one needs fulltime care, it can be extra difficult to help them with the other things you have going on in your life. Respite care will help you cover the times you are not able to be there.

Just like your reason for needing respite care will be unique to you, the help you need will also be specific to your situation. Here are some of the services that respite care can help with:

• Light housekeeping and meal preparation
• Personal grooming
• Medication reminders
• Companionship

Costs of Respite Care

One of the biggest benefits of choosing respite care over fulltime care is cost. Getting help on a short-term or temporary basis is a much cheaper option than having fulltime assistance. 

There are many factors that will affect cost. For example, will you need help in your home or at a residential care facility? Respite care in an assisted living facility can be up to $200/day where in-home care may be somewhere between $35-50/hour. 

How long you will need the care will also affect the cost, as the longer you need help, the lower the hourly cost may be. 

How Visting Angels of Lincoln Can Help with Respite Care

If you need respite care for your parent or relative, then please reach out to Visiting Angels of Lincoln. 

We can work with you to figure out the best plan for your needs and budget. Our caregivers can be there a few hours a week all the way to fulltime help.