Respite care lifts a burden

Stressed? Overwhelmed? Carrying the world on your shoulders? We understand. Caring for your aging parents, family members, or persons with disabilities can be exhausting. It’s difficult to balance someone else’s needs with your work, home life, and other responsibilities.

Whether you’re helping out part-time or feel like you’ve devoted your entire life to caring for someone, respite care can give you some relief. Most older persons and individuals with disabilities live in their homes and communities. For many, this wouldn’t be possible without the supports and services they receive from partners in care.  

Caregivers like you make a safe environment and healthy home possible. We know it’s not a simple task. In fact, it’s common for caregivers to not even realize they are caregivers, and to not ask for help until they’ve burnt themselves out. Take this chance to identify your situation and identify the available resources. You could probably use a hand, and you more than deserve it.

What are respite services?

No two care situations are the same. That’s why the help available through respite services is as varied as your needs.

Respite care means support: someone can come to your home and assist your mother while you grab some groceries.

Respite care means help around the house: someone can clean your kitchen while you’re taking a yoga class.

Respite care means taking a break: someone can assist your father over the weekend while you go out of town.

Respite care means stepping in to help: someone can check in on your aging family member if an accident has you temporarily unable to help.

In many situations, respite care can help by providing your aging or disabled loved one with:

Check with our empowerline counselors to learn what can—and cannot—be provided through respite.

What to expect from senior respite care

Though it can provide an enormous help, respite care is designed to be a short-term break, not a permanent care solution. Empowerline counselors can connect you to private pay options for this service.  And if you need assistance in affording respite, we can help with that too:  you may be asked several questions to judge your need, situation, and income. You may also be measured against a burden and stress index—if you score higher on the index, you will be prioritized to receive publicly-funded respite care. Through most of these programs, trained workers typically provide assistance in four-hour time blocks.

How do I find a respite care provider?

Not sure how to ask for help? Take a few moments to recognize the fact that you may need a break and that it’s okay to care for yourself. Then think to yourself, what might make my situation better? What tasks can someone take off my shoulders to make it easier? Once you’ve identified your key stressors, contact empowerline and share your situation. Our trained counselors will help you find the respite services you need.

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