Caring for a loved one is a privilege. However, it can be hard work. This is why respite care is an important part of any care plan. It has many advantages for both the caregiver and care receiver, making it an important part of any care plan.
When taking a break, you want to know that your loved one is still receiving the best possible care for their needs without compromising the independence you empower them to have. Respite care at one of our nursing homes provides just this; quality, personalised care with a focus on independence and freedom.
In this article, we look at what respite care is, its benefits, and some of the practical information you will be looking for when considering arranging this type of care for your loved one.
What Is Respite Care?
Age UK defines respite care as “the term used for services that enable you to take a break from caring.” This means that a care service, such as ourselves, will take over the responsibility of caring for your loved one so that you can take some time for yourself.
Respite care can be quite flexible, lasting for as long as you need it to and taking place where you need it to. The most common type of respite care is when your loved one goes into a nursing home for a set period of time, be it a day, a few days or a few weeks.
When staying at the care home, they are treated as a resident, enjoying three home-cooked meals a day, use of all the facilities and being encouraged to participate in all the activities that have been organised.
What Are The Benefits Of Respite Care?
Respite care offers many benefits for both the caregiver and care receiver.
Benefits For The Caregiver
Respite care enables the primary carer to take a break. This allows them to complete their own day-to-day tasks, take some time to enjoy their hobbies and interests and relax without the responsibility of looking after someone else.
This time often helps them with their mental and physical well-being as they can use it to exercise or talk to someone outside of the caring circle and engage in activities that make them feel good.
The saying “You can’t care for someone else fully if you don’t look after yourself,” is never more true than when it comes to providing long-term care to a loved one. This is another reason why respite care is so beneficial. If the caregiver can get some rest and mentally and physically re-energise, they will then return to caring with more energy, patience and enthusiasm, enabling them to provide the best quality care.
Respite care allows the caregiver to enjoy the time without responsibility yet still be confident that their loved one’s care is in the best hands.
Benefits For The Care Receiver
Respite care doesn’t only benefit the caregiver. There are several advantages for the care receiver too.
If the care receiver goes into a care home, they get to experience a new environment and meet new people. While this sometimes breaks routine, which might take some getting used to, the extra stimulation provided can be incredibly beneficial for the care receiver.
The social aspect of a care home is also a huge benefit because it presents the opportunity for your loved one to meet other people who might have shared life experiences. They can swap stories with people who understand them.
Additionally, the activities can be mentally stimulating and are an opportunity for the care receiver to try new things in a safe environment, which might be something they don’t often get to do when receiving care at home.
Finally, respite care can encourage the care receiver to maintain a sense of independence and autonomy by allowing them to participate in activities of their choosing and make decisions about their care and lifestyle.
LuxuryCare Group have offered respite care within our nursing homes for over a decade, and we have often found that it is a great tester for moving a loved one into a nursing home. When receiving respite care at our home, your loved one will get a taste of what life is like at the home and can experience living there. Additionally, you can see the care they will receive and get a feel for how well they might settle into a new home.
How Do I Arrange Respite Care?
Now on to the practical elements of respite care.
In some cases, your loved one will receive respite care as part of a care plan put in place from a carer’s assessment or a needs assessment. This would likely be put in place by social services or local authorities.
However, if you are a primary carer and are looking to go on holiday or would like a little more support with caring for your loved one, you can contact any respite care provider to arrange the care.
If you are interested in our respite care services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 01202 037373. We can discuss your loved one’s needs, and work with you to arrange care that suits your situation.
Will Respite Care Affect My Benefits?
If you are receiving Carer’s Allowance or any other benefit related to providing care, you might be wondering if respite care will impact receiving this.
The basic rule is that if you take a break from caring for someone, you can still receive your Carer’s Allowance for up to four weeks during any six-month period. However, there are a lot of nuances within the rules, so it is advisable that you get in touch with a financial adviser or contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit for specialist advice.
Exceptional Respite Care
Every home in our group offers exceptional and flexible respite care. As nursing homes that are dementia specialists, we can provide nursing care for a number of health conditions and all stages of dementia.
However, our care goes beyond their medical needs and will include their mental well-being and emotional needs too.
No matter how long your loved one will be staying with us, we will complete an assessment prior to them coming to our home, where we will assess their needs and talk to them and their family and carers to determine the level of care and support they will need to live as independently as possible with us.
We will use this assessment to form a care plan which our staff will always have access to to ensure consistent and quality care.
Every resident is encouraged to take part in our activities and make the most of our cosy communal areas to socialise and relax.
Discover more about our respite care or book a viewing of one of our homes to get a feel for what your loved ones stay might be like with us by calling us on 01202 037373 or completing our online enquiry form. Our friendly team are always happy to answer your questions, discuss our care and welcome you into our homes.
