What Is respite care?
Respite care is the term used for services that enable carers to take a break from caregiving, whether that be family caregivers or professional caregivers. With respite care, temporary care is put in place so the existing caregiver can take a well-deserved break to rest and recuperate.
Respite care can come in many forms. What works best will depend on your circumstances and those of the person you care for. It might be a home care respite service from professional carers or a family friend who can take over care duties allowing you to go out in the evening or take a longer break, such as a holiday. Some people may prefer residential respite in a care home for longer periods of time.
What is respite care at home?
Caregiving for an elderly, ill, or disabled family member can be physically and emotionally demanding. Respite care is a critical service that allows caregivers to take a much-needed break from the demands of caregiving so they can return well-rested and re-energised.
Respite care at home is the most convenient and least disruptive of all the respite services available, as the person receiving care can stay at home in the place they feel most comfortable without having to move to residential care.
With respite care at home, a professional home care agency, such as Country Cousins, will arrange for a professional carer to stay in the home and care for your loved one for the amount of time required, whether it be for one day, one week or one month.
What does a respite carer do?
At Country Cousins, we understand the incredibly positive impact at-home respite can make. We take a flexible approach to planning and scheduling respite care to ensure you and your loved one receive exactly the support you need.
In-home respite care from Country Cousins can include a wide range of services, including companion care and personal care, as well as assisting around the home with daily tasks such as cleaning, laundry, walking the dog or grocery shopping and collecting prescriptions.
We know how all-consuming caregiving can be, and how much existing carers need to take a rest or risk caregiver burnout. That’s why our professional carers not only care for your loved one but also provide practical support around the home so the existing caregiver can take a break knowing that everything is taken care of by a competent professional carer.
Some of the tasks a carer can do include:
- Laundry and light housekeeping
- Grocery shopping and meal preparation
- Mobility support
- Medication reminders and assistance
- Personal care and companionship
- Accompanying to appointments or trips out in the local community
- Feeding and walking much-loved pets
- Specialist care for health conditions such as dementia care or cancer care
The benefits of respite care at home
The benefits of respite care go beyond simply giving an existing caregiver a break.
Some of the benefits of respite care at home include:
Reducing the risk of caregiver burnout – by enabling vital breaks to rest and recharge.
Continuity of care – maintaining a high standard of care in the comfort of home.
Minimal disruption – there is no need to temporarily move your loved one to a residential care home.
Complete flexibility – enabling you to schedule services for a few hours or overnight for a few days or weeks.
Ongoing support – respite care can be arranged as a regular service on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.
Personalised care – receiving respite care at home from Country Cousins means completely tailored care that meets the needs, wishes and preferences of you and your loved one.
Peace of mind – knowing your loved one is in the capable and experienced hands of a professional caregiver.
What is caregiver burnout?
If you provide care for a loved one without professional assistance, you may be at high risk of physical and mental exhaustion, often referred to as “caregiver burnout.”
Symptoms of caregiver burnout can include:
- Lack of motivation
- Inability to keep appointments or manage responsibilities
- Withdrawal from people and activities you used to enjoy
- Difficulty sleeping
- Unhealthy coping behaviours, such as drug or alcohol use, overeating, or not eating enough
- Feeling irritable, stressed, exhausted, or isolated
- Resentment toward your caregiving duties or your loved one
Respite care at home can substantially reduce your risk of burnout and make caring for your loved one more manageable. If you need to rest and recuperate, Country Cousins can provide services while you focus on your well-being. If your daily or weekly caregiving routine has become overwhelming, Country Cousins can perform regular respite visits to reduce your workload.
How does respite care work?
With Country Cousins respite care, a professional carer will come to stay in the home with your loved one so they can provide care 24 hours a day. The carer will require their own bedroom but can share all the other facilities in the home.
Respite care can cover different lengths of time, such as one day, or a much longer arrangement, such as two weeks or more.
A Country Cousins respite carer will take over all caregiving duties so the existing caregiver can take a complete rest, safe in the knowledge that their loved one is well cared for and all the usual daily tasks are taken care of.
At Country Cousins, we also provide emergency respite care for those times when unforeseen respite care is needed. Whether it be an existing caregiver who is sick or a family emergency, we can put emergency respite care in place quickly so your loved one’s needs can be taken care of.
How to arrange respite care with Country Cousins
We make organising respite care as easy as possible. Simply call our care team on 01293 224706 to find out more and arrange care. Our friendly and experienced staff will answer all your questions and fully explain all the respite care options open to you.
Once you have decided to go ahead with respite care, we will match a carer to you who has the experience and skills to care for your loved one to the standard you expect and deserve.
Before care starts, your allocated carer will take the time to clearly understand your needs and the needs of the person being cared for, including their likes, dislikes and preferences.
At any time during respite care, our expert care team is on hand to revise or adjust care as needed so you can have peace of mind that your loved one is receiving the best care possible from carers who are experienced, skilled and compassionate.
Get in touch with us today on 01293 224706 to find out how we can help. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8 am until 6 pm. Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form, and we will get in touch with you very soon.
