As a person grows older, life becomes complicated and often includes periods of illness or injury. For those reasons, many individuals require senior care services at some point during their life, whether they involve assisted living in a nursing home or being cared for by a family member. If you’ve chosen to be the primary caregiver for an aging loved one, respite care is one type of service you may end up needing for both yourself and the person you’re caring for. Here's a closer look at what the assistance is and how it can benefit your situation.

A Guide to Respite Care

What Is It?

This style of senior care provides medical and daily living assistance to patients on a short-term basis. While the service can take place in-home, it can also occur at a qualified out-of-home facility, like an assisted living center or nursing home. During this time, staff will provide the senior with constant care, whether it includes handling medications, serving meals, or creating socialization opportunities.

Who Benefits From It?

Respite care is useful in a variety of circumstances. Commonly, it's utilized by caregivers who need temporary relief from their daily duties or when other responsibilities arise that they need to handle. This offers a much-welcomed break for caregivers who feel stressed and exhausted from their responsibilities, and it benefits both the caregiver and senior in the long-term. If you’re feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver, it can affect the quality of care you’re trying to provide. By enlisting respite care services, you can refocus and re-energize your efforts, all while ensuring your loved one still receives the proper senior care they require.

Respite care can also benefit individuals making the transition from a rehabilitation center or hospital to their home after a surgery, injury, or illness. In such situations, patients may not be ready to handle the daily strains of being on their own, and respite care offers temporary assistance while they heal or build confidence.

How Long Do People Stay?

The length of respite care depends on the patient's needs and the situation at hand. With residential assisted living communities, an individual's stay may be for a set period of time, like for the duration of a primary caregiver's break. In other instances, a visit's timeline is based on the senior's physical and mental progress in the aftermath of surgery or injury. For such situations, the timeline is decided by the patient, their doctor, and the facility staff.

When a loved one needs temporary senior care, turn to the compassionate staff at Meadowthorpe Assisted Living and Memory Care in Lexington, KY. The Fayette County facility offers a variety of short- and long-term care options in a safe and comforting environment. Visit the senior living community online to learn more about their respite care services, and direct any questions to a knowledgeable team member at (859) 878-1300.