Respite
Care -The Gift of Time
When caring
for a loved one it is easy to overlook your
own personal needs. Caregivers often
juggle the demands of a family and career
along with their responsibility to a sick
or disabled family member or friend.
In fact, family members provide approximately
80 percent of the care needed by older relatives
in the United States and they are doing it
with little or no assistance. As a result,
many caregivers often find themselves victims
of stress and depression.
In order to
maintain both your own and a loved one’s quality
of life it is important for you, as a caregiver,
to take a rest. If “caregiving” duties
are overwhelming, looking for outside assistance
is the right thing to do. A respite
care program can offer temporary relief from
the day-to-day demands of caring for an aging
or disabled loved one.
What
is respite care?
The
idea of respite care emerged in the early
1970’s when home care became a trend in the
field of human services. It is typically
defined as any type of “relief” care provided
to families who care for a loved one who has
a chronic illness or disability. It
can include temporary relief ranging from
a few hours to a few weeks or periodic care
up to a few months. This temporary relief
may be provided on an emergency or regular
basis. Ideally, respite care should
be preventative, rather than the result of
a crisis. Planning ahead by seeking
outside help will ensure that good care will
be provided.
Respite services
are provided in many ways, depending on the
needs of the family. In general there
are three types of respite care services:
·
Adult day programs
·
In-home health aide or companion services
·
Overnight care in a residential facility
All respite
services are part of an overall support system
necessary for families to to provide care
for a loved one at home.
How
does respite care help the caregiver?
One
of the most important purposes of respite
care is to give caregivers temporary relief
from the stress they experience while providing
care to an ill or disabled loved one.
This “break” aids in preventing abuse and
neglect and supports family unity. Respite
care enables caregivers to take extended vacations
or just a few hours off to spend time with
friends or family.
In
addition to providing caregivers with time
of their own, respite care provide the opportunity
to discuss a loved one’s health status with
a health cares professional.
Signs
of Caregiver Stress
If you experience
several of the stress symptoms listed below
on a regular basis, turn to the Saint Barnabas
Health Care System for quality respite services
that will provide you with time you need to
take care of yourself and confidence that
your loved one is in good hands.
- Denial
about the illness and its effect on
your loved one.
-
Social Withdrawal
from friends, family and activities
that once brought pleasure.
-
Anxiety
over facing another day and what the
future holds.
-
Exhaustion
making it nearly impossible to complete
daily tasks.
-
Sleeplessness
caused by an infinite number of concerns.
-
Irritability
leads to moodiness and triggers anger.
-
Lack of concentration making
it difficult to perform familiar tasks.
- Health
problems begin to take
surface as you neglect your own well being.
Who
provides respite services?
Most respite
programs are provided by non-profit organizations
like hospitals and nursing homes. The
Saint Barnabas Health Care System supports
eight nursing and rehabilitation centers and
two assisted living facilities throughout
New Jersey which provide a variety of programs
aimed at aiding caregivers and their loved
ones. In some cases families with an
ill or disabled loved one arrange for respite
care with neighbors, family members or friends.
How
can I find respite care providers in my area?
The Saint
Barnabas Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
nearest you is an excellent place to start
when looking for qualified and caring respite
services for a loved one. Their healthcare
professionals can provide you with a list
of care options available and recommend the
best avenue of care for you and your family.
With eight locations throughout New Jersey,
there is sure to be a convenient location
near you. Your family healthcare provider
is also a good place to turn when looking
into respite care.
How
do I know if respite care is right for me?
Many caregivers
are reluctant to rely on a respite program.
They may even question the need for this type
of service. It is recommended that caregivers
and their families ask themselves the following
questions to help determine if respite services
are right for them:
- Is
it difficult to find temporary care for
my loved one?
- Does
caring for him/her interfere with scheduling
appointments or with personal projects?
- Am
I concerned that in the event of a family
emergency there is no one whom I would
feel secure caring for my loved one?
- Do
I avoid going out because I feel I would
be imposing on family and friends who
would care for my love one?
- Would
I feel comfortable having a respite provider
care for my loved one?
If your
answer to any of these questions is “yes,”
you may benefit from respite care services.
Time
to Grow
Respite care
not only gives caregivers time to concentrate
on themselves but it provides an ill or disabled
loved one with a change in their daily routine.
It encourages the development of new relationships
and friendships, boosts self-esteem and confidence
and inspires a move toward independence.
This brochure
is provided as a public service of the Saint
Barnabas Health Care System Nursing and Rehabilitation
Centers.
Assisted
Living Facilities
- Assisted Living Residence
at Clara Maass Continuing Care Center
at Kearny
- Saint Barnabas Assisted
Living at Lakewood
Nursing
and Rehabilitation Centers
- Ashbrook Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center, Scotch Plains
- Clara Maass Continuing
Care Center at Belleville
- Clara Maass Continuing
Care Center at Kearny
- Clara Maass Continuing
Care Center at West Hudson
- Cornell Hall Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Union
- Country Manor Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Toms River
- Greenbrook Manor Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Green Brook
- Kensington Manor Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Toms River
- Llanfair House Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Wayne
For information
on any of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System
Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, call 1-888-SBHS-123.
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