RESPITE
CARE



RESPITE CARE

MODELS FOR RESPITE CARE

RESPITE CARE LINKS



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SECTION 1



RESPITE
CARE



Respite care is the provision of short-term,
temporary relief to those who are caring for
family members who might otherwise require
permanent placement in a facility outside
the home.

Respite programs provide planned short-term and
time-limited breaks for families and other unpaid
care givers of children with a developmental delay
and adults with an intellectual disability in order
to support and maintain the primary care giving
relationship. Respite also provides a positive
experience for the person receiving care. The term
"short break" is used in some countries to describe
respite care.

Even though many families take great joy in providing
care to their loved ones so that they can remain at
home, the physical, emotional and financial consequences
for the family caregiver can be overwhelming without
some support, such as respite. Respite provides a break
for the family caregiver, which may prove beneficial to
the health of the caregiver. Three fifths of family
caregivers age 19-64 surveyed recently by the Commonwealth
Fund reported fair or poor health, one or more chronic
conditions, or a disability, compared with only one-third
of non caregivers.

Respite has been shown to help sustain family caregiver
health and wellbeing, avoid or delay out-of-home placements,
and reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect. An outcome
based evaluation pilot study showed that respite may also
reduce the likelihood of divorce and help sustain marriages.



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SECTION 2



MODELS
FOR
RESPITE
CARE



There are various models for
providing respite care.


In-home respite

In-home care is popular for obvious reasons.
The temporary caregiver comes to the regular
caregiver’s home, and gets to know the care
receiver in his or her normal environment.
The temporary caregiver learns the family
routine, where medicines are stored, and the
care receiver is not inconvenienced by
transportation and strange environments. In
this model, friends, relatives and paid
professionals may be used. Depending on the
state, Medicaid or Medicare may be used to
help cover costs. Another in-home model will
utilize friends and neighbors as helping hands
where the primary caregiver never leaves the
premises but may simply be getting a break so
that they can cook dinner or pay the bills.


Specialized facility

Another model uses a specialized, local facility
where the care receiver may stay for a few days
or a few weeks. The advantage of this model is
that the specialized facility will probably have
better access to emergency facilities and
professional assistance if needed.


Emergency respite

There may be the need for respite care on an
emergency basis. When using "planned" emergency
care, the caregiver has already identified a
provider or facility to call in case there is
an emergency. Many homecare agencies, adult day
care, health centers, and residential care
facilities provide emergency respite care.


Sitter-companion services

Sitter-companion services are sometimes provided
by local civic groups, the faith community and
other community organizations. A regular sitter-
companion can provide friendly respite care for
a few hours, once or twice a week. Care must be
taken to assure that the sitter-companion is
trained in what to do if an emergency occurs
while the regular care-giver is out of the home.


Therapeutic adult day care

Therapeutic adult daycare may provide respite
care during business hours five days a week.


Respite care
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respite_care



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SECTION 3



RESPITE
CARE
LINKS



Alzheimer's & Dementia Respite Care
http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_?respite_care.asp

ARCH National Respite Network
http://archrespite.org/

Respite Care
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/respite_?care.htm

Respite Care
http://www.eldercare.gov/.../Resources/?Factsheets/Respite_Care.aspx

Respite Care - The ALS Association
http://www.alsa.org/als-care/caregivers/?respite-care.html

Respite Care - Autism/PDD
http://www.autism-pdd.net/respite.html

Respite Care - Geriatrics and Extended Care
http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/?LongTermCare/Respite_Care.asp

Respite Care, Inc
http://www.respitecareinc.org

What is respite care?
http://www.caregiverstress.com/.../planning/?what-is-respite-care

What Is Respite Care?
http://www.medicare.com/assisted-living/?respite-care.html



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