Being a caregiver is a very demanding job, and it requires time off to recharge and take a break from your responsibilities. But who will care for your patient while you’re away?  

Respite care offers caregivers relief while ensuring their patients receive support, care, and attention as usual. We’ll explain why someone would want respite care and discuss the benefits for caregivers and patients. 

Key Takeaways 

• Respite care is temporary and gives the caregiver a break from their duties.
  
  

• Respite care helps prevent caregiver burnout and gives them time to fulfill their other duties.
  
  

• Respite care can help improve caregivers' sleep, energy and stress levels. 

What Is Respite Care in Hospice?

Being a caregiver for a patient, whether in a formal capacity or caring for a loved one, is a full-time job and is physically and emotionally demanding. You can easily take time off with an office job, but there’s more involved as a caregiver than submitting a time-off request. You must ensure someone else cares for your patient in your absence. This is where respite care comes in. 

Respite care is temporary and gives the caregiver a break from their duties. Many people do not realize being a caregiver is an isolating career, especially if you care for a patient who lives out of town and there are just the two of you. Without anyone else to interact with, it can be easy to become lonely and frustrated, especially on particularly difficult days. 

As a caregiver, it’s also important to seek support for yourself. Respite care can be for a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the patient. Suppose you have an appointment to get you and run a couple of errands. You could request respite care for this. 

Respite care can take place in your patient’s home or out-of-home programs like day camps, assisted living facilities, daycare centers for adults and nursing homes.      

Enlisting the help of your loved ones or friends to take over your responsibilities for a temporary stint is also considered respite care. Volunteers from faith-based and non-profit organizations can carry out respite care as well. In addition, nursing homes can provide caregivers with more than 24 hours of relief. 

During the handover of care, you can use Trustworthy to share all the medication instructions and other important information needed. Trustworthy's Family Operating System® allows you to securely store all your important documents in one location, through your phone or computer. 

Why Would Someone Want Respite Care?

Here are some benefits respite care can provide to caregivers:

Burnout Prevention

Caregiver burnout is a type of emotional depletion many caregivers experience. It’s common for unpaid caregivers, like those caring for family members, to become emotionally and physically drained from their role. This type of burnout can cause feelings of detachment from their caregiving role, ultimately affecting the patient.

Meredith Lilly, Ph.D., a researcher of caregivers in British Columbia, explains: “Burnout … is the point at which caregivers are often no longer able to continue in their caring roles and care recipients are at greatest risk of institutionalization.” 

To prevent this burnout, caregivers should request respite care when they feel emotionally exhausted before it becomes too late. 

Time Off

Just like any other job, as a caregiver, you’re also allowed and encouraged to take time off to relax, go on vacation, or catch up on errands. During this time off, allow yourself to relax without having to worry about your patients, as respite care will tend to their needs.

Other Responsibilities Needing Attention

It’s easy to forget that caregivers also have responsibilities other than those of their patients. This includes their responsibility to their own family or household. It’s important for them to request respite care to focus on these responsibilities so they can perform their duties to the fullest without worrying while providing care. 

Unexpected Circumstances

Sometimes, caregivers need respite care when they hadn’t planned for it, for when unexpected circumstances pop up and they need to focus on them. This could include emergencies like the death of a family member, sickness or accidents.

Plan for emergencies with Trustworthy and use the permissions features to share information with your loved one or another caregiver. 

Attending Important Events

Life happens, but that doesn’t mean you have to watch it fly by. You can use respite care when attending important events like weddings, graduations, and birthday parties without worrying if your loved one is okay. Respite care gives you peace of mind that your patient is well taken care of when you’re not there. 

Benefits of Respite Care for the Caregiver

Caregivers can appreciate plenty of benefits when using respite care, and the patient benefits as well.

Improved Sleep

When you’re on duty as a caregiver, your hours will differ greatly from a nine-to-five job. You may be up at late hours with very little sleep if your patient requires around-the-clock care, which can severely limit your sleep. 

A lack of adequate sleep can cause problems like trouble focusing, which can be dangerous if you administer medication. Other symptoms include headaches, changes in mood, increased stress and low motivation. All of this leads to caregiver burnout. Respite care allows you to catch up on some much-needed sleep. 

Improved Energy Levels 

Because you get enough sleep and rest during respite care, it should improve your overall energy levels. Improved energy levels mean you can do everything you need during your time off, including that pile of laundry you need to tackle. 

Improved Outlook on Life 

An adequate amount of sleep and increased energy levels can do wonders for the soul. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, poor sleep can cause problems in regulating emotions and can also cause depression. Taking time off and getting enough rest can improve your outlook on life, which is great for your mental health. 

Reduced Anxiety 

Being a caregiver is stressful and overwhelming at times. For many, you’re the primary caregiver, and if you care for a hospice care patient, this can be quite emotional as well. You must ensure your patient is safe, comfortable, and receiving the correct medication. So, it’s not unusual for caregivers to feel increased levels of stress and anxiety. Use respite care as a time to relax.   

Benefits of Respite Care for the Patient

Respite care isn’t just for caregiver relief. It can also offer some benefits for your loved one that you may not have realized. 

Increased Social Interaction 

It can be lonely if the patient’s only social interaction is with you, their caregiver. Respite care allows them to socialize with other caregivers or patients if they’re in a care home. Social interaction is great for healthy mental health and provides some entertainment in their day. 

Reduced Guilt on Caregivers Duties 

Some patients often feel some level of guilt for making their caregivers feel stressed or anxious. Respite care can offer some relief from that guilt, especially if the caregiver is a family member.  

Improved Relationship with the Caregiver 

Respite care provides a great opportunity for patients and caregivers to take a break from each other. This is a good idea. Even if you get along with your caregiver, a break gives you the chance to return refreshed. 

For patients, this temporary change in caregivers is a good thing, and with Trustworthy, there is no need to worry about anyone disregarding medical needs. You can easily store and share access to all the necessary medical documents. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who pays for respite care?

Respite care is less expensive than other care options. Depending on what type of medical insurance policy you’re on will depend on who pays for it. For Medicare to cover the costs of respite care, the patient will need to qualify for it. 

How often can I request respite care?

There is no limit on how much respite care you can request depending on what respite care services you are using. For example, Medicare will have limitations on what respite care is covered. 

What is the difference between hospice care and respite care?

Respite care differs from hospice care as it’s only a temporary type of care to give caregivers a break. 

Can you leave a hospice patient alone?

This depends on the severity of your patient’s illness. However, if you’re the caregiver for around-the-clock care, leaving your patient alone for long periods turns into neglect.