Respite care is important for caregivers because it prevents caregiver burnout and gives them time to manage their other responsibilities, have a personal life, and practice self-care. Respite care is a more affordable care option that ensures effective care is always available.

Let’s examine why respite care is important by breaking down the benefits to caregivers, people that receive care, and everyone involved.

What is respite care?

Respite care is when a professional caregiver offers temporary help so that the primary caregiver (or caregivers) can have a break.

Respite care is one type of elder care service.

Caregivers can arrange a time for these professional caregivers to come and relieve them from their caregiving duties.

Respite care can be planned or used in an emergency. It can range from a couple of hours a week to a couple of weeks.

All respite care includes supervision. Beyond that, services are tailored to types of respite care and the individual’s needs.

Home care respite services include companionship, medication assistance, meal prep, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, laundry, and transportation.

Caregivers also help with the person’s activities of daily living (ADLs), including helping them eat, move around, bathe, groom, dress, and go to the bathroom.

Types of respite care

There are several different types of respite care available, including:

Informal respite care- Family or friends can take over caregiving responsibilities, provide transportation, help with housekeeping or preparing meals, or serve as a companion.

Adult day centers- Adult day programs provide a place for seniors to go during the day so that they are supervised and get social interaction, and the caregivers can work or attend to their other responsibilities.

Home care providers- Home care providers offer the most flexible respite care with their hours and services tailored to the individual’s needs. They are professional caregivers who will come to your loved one’s home or provide transportation wherever they want. Many also offer specialized respite care, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s care.

Residential facilities- If you want respite care where the person stays overnight at a different facility, many residential facilities, such as group homes, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes, offer short-term care.

Look into your local options. Deciding what type of respite care is right for you will depend on when and where they need care.

To learn more about what respite care entails and the types of respite care, check out our article: Respite Elderly Care: What are Respite Care Services?

Benefits of respite care for caregivers

There are many reasons respite care is important for caregivers.

Prevents caregiver burnout and reduces stress

Preventing Caregiver Burnout And Stress With Respite Care

Caregivers experience a high level of stress.

One of the biggest reasons respite care is important (or essential) for caregivers is because it helps reduce stress and prevents caregiver burnout.

Caregiver burnout is when caregivers become emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted. It can occur when caregivers try to do more than they can do.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms include:

Withdrawal from loved ones
Lack of interest in activities they previously liked
Feeling irritable, hopeless or helpless
Changes in appetite or sleep
Getting sick more
Wanting to hurt themselves or the person they care for

Respite care is an excellent way to prevent caregiver burnout by giving the caregivers breaks so that they can reduce their stress and restore their energy.

To learn more about caregiver burnout, check out 8 Signs of Caregiver Burnout & What You Can Do About It.

Helps caregivers maintain their other responsibilities

Respite care is also important because it gives caregivers the flexibility they need to take care of the other responsibilities, such as their families, jobs, or other commitments.

Allows you to leave town

Respite care allows caregivers to be able to leave town for work or vacation while they can rest assured that their loved one has someone who can care for them.

Encourages self-care and looking after your own health

According to the CDC, caregivers are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, compromised immune systems, declining health, and increased risk of early death.

Caregivers can be so focused on their loved one’s health that they start to neglect their health. They may also turn to bad habits to relieve stress, such as smoking or drinking.

Respite care gives them the time and freedom to take care of their own health concerns, eat healthier, exercise, and establish healthier stress-relieving practices such as journaling, yoga, or meditation.

Frees up time for caregivers to have a personal life

Respite care is also important so that caregivers can maintain a social life and have time to see friends and other family members, go shopping, and engage in their favorite hobby (or learn a new one).

This will help avoid the social isolation that caregivers can experience (plus, it’s fun!).

Encourages caregivers to maintain a separate personal identity

Caregivers can become so caught up in their caregiving role that they lose their other sense of identity.

Respite care gives caregivers the time to remember who they are and spend time in all areas of their life.

Benefits of respite care for people that need caregiving

People often talk about the benefits of respite care for caregivers, but respite care is also important for the people that need care.

Ensures they always have a competent caregiver

If people need frequent care or need to be supervised at all times, it can be a worry for everyone about what they will do if the caregiver has health problems or an emergency happens.

Respite care provides peace of mind that a professional caregiver will always be available to provide the care they need.

Additional companionship

Another benefit of respite care is that your loved one will get a chance at additional companionship.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) states that almost 25% of adults aged 65 or older are socially isolated, which means they lack social connections.

Considering both the CDC and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) have determined that social isolation increases the risk of premature death (as much or even more than smoking or obesity), leads to an increase in dementia, and causes higher rates of depression and suicide, the benefits of companionship should not be overlooked.

Respite care providers give your loved one a chance to socialize, get to know other people, and make friends.

They can provide emotional support, mental stimulation, and help your loved one engage in their favorite hobbies and social activities, such as going out to eat and playing games.

Learn more about Social Isolation in the Elderly: How You Can Help Your Parent Avoid It.

Change in environment

Along with a variety of company, respite care also gives people a chance to get a change in environment.

Respite care at an adult day center or residential facility offers a change of location, and home care providers can provide transportation to any fun place.

Benefits of respite care to everyone involved

Respite care provides benefits to everyone involved.

Smooths transitions

Respite care is useful to everyone by providing additional support during times of transition, such as when leaving the hospital or moving.

More affordable professional care

More Affordable Professional Care Service

Another reason why respite care is important is because it is a more affordable option than a long-term residential care facility or hiring a full-time caregiver.

You only pay for services when you need them.

Improves relationship between caregivers and their loved ones

Since caregivers and their loved one spend a lot of time together, they can both benefit from a break.

Taking time apart can help reduce tensions, avoid resentments, and improve their relationship.

Expands healthcare team

Think of hiring a respite care provider as expanding your loved one’s healthcare team and having more people looking after their well-being.

A professional caregiver is also a resource that can give you advice or tips to make caring for your loved one easier.

Gives new perspective

In addition to reducing tensions, time apart can give people a chance to get some perspective. You may appreciate each other more.

This change in perspective could help you come up with improved ways of doing things, additional resources, or new things to try.

Rest from respite care makes people better caregivers when they return

Taking a step away from caregiving responsibilities allows time for self-care and improves their patience, energy, and health.

This allows people to be better caregivers when they return, which benefits everyone.

Hire Pacific Angels Home Care for Respite Care in California

Now that you know why respite is important, the next step is to talk to your loved one about getting another caregiver and find a respite care provider.

Pacific Angels Home Care offers respite care that we tailor to the needs of you and your loved one, including personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and transportation.

We are available whenever you need additional support.

For those in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area, call (831) 708-2876 or reach us online to learn more or schedule an in-home consultation.

Grace Newman

Grace Newman is a freelance writer for hire and tutor from Danville, Illinois. She is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and was an editorial intern and editor for Parlia (a Wikipedia of opinions website). Currently, Grace writes about online education at her blog www.getsmartsoon.com. When she isn’t writing, she loves playing card games, having picnics, and binging her latest TV show obsession.

15 Reasons Why Respite Care is Important