When you’re a caregiver, you can get stuck in a cycle of doing, doing, doing and can easily neglect your physical, mental and social well-being. From bringing your loved one to appointments to helping with laundry and beyond, your tasks run the gamut. But what if you need a break? Maybe you want to go on a vacation or cheer on your kid at a soccer tournament two towns over. Or maybe, you’d like more regular help to free up some time in your day.
Did you know? You have helpful care options that can be more scheduled or “drop in” when you need it most.
3 Common Types of Respite Care
Just like the name implies, respite care offers time away from daily caregiving duties. You get a break while your loved one receives knowledgeable care and support in a safe environment. Depending on you and your family’s needs, you can customize services to a couple of hours to a couple of months.
In-home services may include companionship, housekeeping and other home-based tasks like meal preparation, personal care including bathing, dressing and exercising, and skilled care for help with medications, infusions and other treatments.
Adult day centers offer planned activities and programming by support staff. And depending on the location, transportation and meals may be offered, too.
Residential health centers allow for overnight stays of varying lengths of time with around-the-clock skilled care.
Remember: Your loved one may need a few experiences with outside care to get comfortable. Continue to talk openly and finetune the respite care services that work for you and your lifestyle.
6 Benefits of Respite Care for You & Your Loved One
The best time to opt for respite care services near you? Before signs of caregiver burnout set in. But signs like irritability, lack of energy and sleep problems are easy to overlook or even ignore.
Sound familiar? Take the Institute on Aging Caregiver Stress Test to get a pulse on how caregiving impacts you.
53 million people in the U.S. provide unpaid care to friends and family according to the comprehensive Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 survey sponsored by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. And of this group, 61% also hold at least one other job, and 23% agree caregiving duties have made their own health worse.
These stats show caregiver burnout is a real issue, leaving caregivers like you feeling stressed and drained physically, emotionally and financially.
In addition to the gift of time, respite care provides a number of benefits to all involved:
- Gain a fresh perspective on caregiving routines and tasks that are on autopilot.
- Get ideas for new activities or ways of getting involved.
- Strengthen personal connections.
- Focus on your health and well-being.
- Trial potential senior living residences.
- Engage socially without guilt — for both you and your loved one!
You get valuable time to rest, recharge and reset your perspective on caregiving. By letting expert staff take care of your loved one, you’re taking care of you, too.
Beacon Hill Respite Care Options in Lombard & DuPage County
When you or your loved one could use some time away, or if you’re suffering from caregiver burnout, consider the respite care options near you in DuPage County. Right here at Beacon Hill, we offer 24/7 respite care services for a minimum stay of seven days in our 5-star rated health center. Your loved one receives full access to all of our amenities (including healthy and delicious chef-prepared meals and our engaging programming) and social activities.
Please reach out to our friendly team to learn more about how Beacon Hill’s respite care services can help you and your family free up time to see to the other parts of your life.
