What to Know about Respite Care for a Senior Loved One
There are several types of respite care services for you to consider. Among them are:
- Informal respite provided by your personal network of friends and family.
- Volunteers from a local senior organization or through a local church.
- In-home care agencies with professionally trained caregivers.
- A short-term stay at a local senior living community.
- Adult day centers are considered by some to be a respite service.
Before you select a respite care provider for your senior loved one, there are a few factors you will need to address:
- If the potential caregiver isn’t someone you know, plan to meet with them in person. Even if it is a volunteer from your local church, you need to spend time with them before you leave them alone with your loved one.
- Provide the respite caregiver with a specific and detailed description of your senior loved one’s condition. If your aging loved one lives with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, be upfront about any unusual behaviors they might encounter.
- Have a clear understanding of what the services will entail and how much the cost will be. Be sure to have the respite care provider put that information in writing.
- Be certain to obtain a list of three to five references and call each one of them. This is true whether you are employing an individual, an agency, or a senior living community to provide respite care.
- Consider performing a background check. The methods of doing so vary from one state to another, but your local police department can help you understand how to complete one in your area.
Explore your options and schedule the services well in advance of the time you will need them. Contact us to learn more about the in-home care services at SpiriTrust Lutheran® Home Care & Hospice.