Respite Care for Family Caregivers
Last time we discussed absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace. This week I’d like to take a step back and discuss a broader topic, which is respite care. Respite care is the provision of care for individuals on a temporary, possibly periodic, basis, giving a break to those who provide care on an ongoing, perhaps permanent, basis. Respite care is a type of care that covers typical needs, including assistance with activities of daily living, help with transportation, cleaning, doing the dishes, etc., provided on a temporary basis.
Generally, respite care is a program that is unknown to the folks who need it the most – family caregivers. Most people think the caregiving is a service that is available only on a permanent basis. Fortunately, respite care is available to almost anyone for almost any amount of time. This can be a godsend to folks that are caring for a loved one and are suffering from caregiver burnout. While all of us want to be able to always be there for our loved ones when they need us, frequently we can’t be there or just need a break to “recharge our batteries.”
Speaking of recharging our batteries, I wanted to also mention that Anne Arundel county residents have access to (family) caregiver support. The Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities (DoAD) works directly with the National Family Caregiver Support Program to provide excellent help and support for caregivers.
At Right at Home, we are proud to offer respite care to our clients. During the difficult time of COVID-19, you can be assured that Right at Home is training our caregivers to be responsible and safe while providing care and that we provide the necessary PPE to each and every caregiver. Additionally, we are in Maryland’s group 1A and have begun the process of working with our caregivers to get vaccinated.
We understand that frequently there isn’t a need for long term, continuous care; we are here to help those that just need a break. Please reach out to Right at Home of Anne Arundel County at 410-846-0141. We’re always here for you.
