Frequently Asked Questions about Respite Care
Respite adjective
Definition of respite: providing or being temporary care in relief of a primary caregiver
- respite care
- a respite worker
At some point in your life, you may act as the caregiver for an aging spouse, parent, or grandparent. Most people find caregiving manageable in the early stages of care. However, as your loved one grows older and their needs become more intensive, without a plan in place for support, you could find yourself suffering from caregiver burnout. It is essential to feel comfortable asking for and accepting help to avoid exhaustion. Many people today face the challenge of a lack of family and friends who can provide consistent support. Consider respite care services if you do not have a network of people to help with your loved one when you need time for yourself.
With traditional home care services, most caregiving tasks are performed by professional caregivers, with family caregivers acting in a support role. Family caregivers remain the primary care providers with respite care, but professional caregivers support them. This way, family caregivers can reduce their risk of suffering caregiver burnout.
With respite care, you can rely on professional home caregivers to:
- Offer a helping hand with difficult or stressful care activities
- Look after your loved one when you have other commitments
- Help you find time to attend to your well-being
- Provide guidance and support in confusing or stressful situations
Common Concerns about Respite Care
Can my family afford respite services?
The cost of respite services, like other types of home care, are typically provided by the hour. While hourly rates and minimum visit lengths will vary from agency to agency, this will give you financial flexibility when scheduling shifts.
Will care be scheduled in a way that works for me and my loved one?
Do you need respite services for a specific day and time each week? Are you worried about maintaining your loved one’s routine? If so, you might be concerned about your options for a respite care schedule. Once again, scheduling policies will vary between different agencies. However, the vast majority of respite care providers will offer you options that fit your needs, routine, and lifestyle.
How will caregivers respond to my loved one’s unique needs?
Caregiving is extraordinarily personal. Every care recipient has unique requirements, limitations, and preferences, so care must be customized on a person-to-person basis. A high-quality caregiving agency will take pains to personalize your loved one’s services.
What if my loved one needs specialized care?
Seniors coping with significant physical or cognitive decline may require specialized support. If your loved one needs assistance with personal activities like bathing or toileting, you’ll need an agency that provides personal care services on a respite basis. Similarly, if your loved one is coping with Alzheimer’s or dementia, you’ll need caregivers trained in memory care or dementia home care.
How can I be sure my loved one is safe and secure?
Many family caregivers struggle with leaving their loved ones in someone else’s care. While this instinct is understandable, it shouldn’t stop you from getting the respite you require. If you are concerned about safety, find a senior home care agency that performs background checks on caregivers. Another smart strategy is to join your loved one’s caregiver for the first few sessions. That way, you can understand their approach and start building a rapport.
Will my loved one receive the same level of care?
You know your loved one better than anyone else. So you might worry that a respite caregiver won’t provide the same level of care. Concern about someone else’s effort can be a stumbling block for family members in initiating respite care. At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our caregivers take extraordinary pride in their work, approaching their clients with great care, respect, and compassion.
Do I need to hire respite services?
No matter how overwhelmed, exhausted, or strained they become, caregivers may resist the idea of respite care. Often, this resistance stems from feelings of guilt. By hiring outside caregivers, family members may feel as if they’ve failed their loved one in a time of great need.
Here’s another way of thinking about this issue: Without respite care, you risk providing your loved one with substandard support. If you are constantly stressed and exhausted, you’ll be less patient with your loved one, more prone to mistakes, and at ever-greater risk of total burnout.
Respite services will make caregiving more manageable and give you time to care for yourself. In the end, respite care supports your loved one and provides reprieve for yourself.
Respite Caregivers for the Boston Area Community
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has an outstanding team of caregivers who work tirelessly to provide quality care to our clients in the Greater Boston area in Massachusetts. Our caregivers are CNA or HHA certified. They must provide three professional references and have at least one year of professional experience as a caregiver. We perform the state criminal record check (CORI) and national background screening(s) on each potential employee. Caregivers must pass an extensive home care exam and are interviewed at length by our knowledgeable case managers. Our new caregivers complete full orientation training and courses through the Visiting Angels University program.
Many of our caregivers have been with us for several years and will refer colleagues and friends. We make it a priority to support our caregivers with events, training, and awards. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award seven times and Employer of Choice by Home Care Pulse for several consistent years through positive reviews from our caregivers.
Call us at (617) 795-2727 to book a free in-home consultation with one of our knowledgeable case managers today!
About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber at-home living assistance to seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home care, elder companion support, live-in and 24-hour assistance, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and respite care services in Stoughton, Canton, Boston’s (Upper) Back Bay, Brookline, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Watertown, Wellesley, Westwood, and West Roxbury, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts. The non-medical assistance Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides can significantly impact your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.