As a homecare service provider in Toronto, we often hear from individuals who are interested in booking a caregiver to fill the gaps around the support their family is already providing to a loved one. For example, someone may tell us that they regularly take their aging parent to medical appointments and do their grocery shopping, but they’d like someone to come in and assist with bathing and other personal care tasks throughout the week. Other times, family caregivers are providing complete support—but what happens when those caregivers want to travel, manage their own health or simply take a break?
Respite care is a great solution, but not everyone is familiar with what it entails. So, let’s talk about it! Here are three things to know if you’re considering respite care for your aging loved one. If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation with our team, please contact us. We look forward to speaking with you.
It’s short-term
Respite care is a short-term service that is personalized to the individual and/or family’s unique needs. It is often booked when family caregivers are unavailable to provide the care they normally do—for example, if they go on vacation, travel to visit other family members or have health issues of their own. It is also common to book respite care so family members can take a much-needed break from the responsibilities of caregiving and avoid burnout. Respite care is similar to convalescent care in that it’s temporary and short-term, but while convalescent care is typically booked when the care recipient needs support on a short-term basis (for example, after surgery or illness), respite care offers short-term relief to the caregiver.
It delivers peace of mind
Respite care can be provided in one shift per day, in short shifts throughout the week or 24 hours a day—each and every family has different needs, and our services are designed to be flexible. With respite care, the idea is to cover the caregiving responsibilities you normally manage so you can step away as needed. Think of it this way: it’s like a substitute teacher who steps in to manage a classroom until their regular education is back. Not only does respite care ensure that your loved one is safe and well cared for during your absence, it gives you the peace of mind you need to focus on other things.
It’s available whenever you need it
Some families rarely require respite care while others regularly make use of it as a means to avoid burnout and achieve balance as family caregivers. You may want to have a PSW in once or twice a week throughout the year to complement your own caregiving and book full-time respite care for a week as needed, or you may only require a caregiver when family members are unavailable. Both of these scenarios are normal and acceptable—just let us know what you need and we’d be happy to work with you to find a solution. Our goal is to support your aging loved one and your family by providing reliable, skilled homecare services that are delivered with kindness, compassion and respect. We’d be pleased to share references and provide a personalized quote for our services. Thanks for reading and remember—all family caregivers deserve a break and peace of mind, and we’re here to help