Respite Care: What Is It & What Are My Options?

Q: “I hear the term Respite Care, what does it really mean and is it short or long term help?”

A: Let’s start with Wikipedia’s definition of Respite Care in the situation of elderly or disabled care:

“Respite Care is the provision of short term temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home.”

There are different respite options to help accommodate your individual needs:

Companion Services — these range from free volunteer organizations, non-medical in home care agencies (hourly fee), to neighbors or friends you trust.

Adult Day Care — an hourly or daily fee for watching your loved one while you do errands or just need a day off.

Assisted Living Facilities — several in the area offer a daily rate that includes room, board and care. The cost can range from approximately $100-$175 a day depending on the facility and your mother’s care needs.

Emergency Plan — it is a good plan to have a person or facility already in place in case there was an emergency where you would not be able to take care of your mother.

Sometimes this term is also used when ‘trying out’ an assisted living facility to see how your loved one adjusts and in a many cases, blossoms with socialization.