Introducing respite care to your family can be extremely difficult, especially if you have never broached the subject or thought about it before. Plus, some people can be reluctant to try it and reap the benefits of it – both carers and the person that you are caring for might be defensive against the idea. If this is the case for you, here are some of the ways to introduce respite care to your family.
Home Care
The first option that you should consider trying is home care, as this is the least intrusive and will cause the least disruption in terms of your loved one’s life. However, before you make this decision, you should discuss the potential of respite care with the people that it will affect, including the person who will be having respite care.
Keeping everyone involved in the loop will ensure that they are on the same page and understand your motivations for thinking that respite care might be a good idea. Additionally, it can also help you to avoid feelings of guilt. However, you should choose the right moment to bring up the topic and make sure you have the time to explain your ideas and reasons properly.
Try Residential Care
If you’re a carer and you want a break for longer than a day or so, you should consider opting for residential care. This type of care will ensure that your loved one is looked after for a while, allowing you the chance to enjoy a break or even go on vacation.
This will prevent you from getting burned out and from feeling resentful of your loved one. If you want to try short-term residential care, you should consider looking at the options provided by care homes in Surrey – specialist care facilities like these can give you the respite that you and your loved one both need.
Daycare
Suppose you only need a day respite service that can allow you to focus on work or your family for a short period of time. If this sounds ideal, you should consider trialing respite care before you decide to use it frequently – and this is where daycare comes in.
Daycare will allow you and your loved one to figure out if respite care overall is a viable option, and you will be able to see how they cope with it and whether they come back home happy and healthy. Ideally, if you’re interested, you should speak to your local respite care provider to see how they can accommodate you and your family member.
Find Other Carers
Even if you are the best carer in the world, you’ll need a break. If you are the sole caregiver of your loved one and you are finding it too much to handle, you could consider finding other carers who can take over for a short time, such as another family member or friend.
Having someone else share your loved one’s care will ensure that you do not feel solely responsible, and it will allow you to get the support you need when you want to focus on your own life and health.
The content is intended to augment, not replace, information provided by your clinician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reading this information does not create or replace a doctor-patient relationship or consultation. If required, please contact your doctor or other health care provider to assist you in interpreting any of this information, or in applying the information to your individual needs.
