We’re just weeks away from the official start of summer, and many families already have exciting plans for July, August and the September long weekend. Some will head to the cottage or another province for summer vacation, while others will embark on road trips or even overseas. The common theme for many families is summer travel, which is a wonderful way to spend your holidays—however, if you provide care to any aging relatives on a regular basis, there’s an extra element of planning to account for.
Here’s a brief overview of respite care and why it’s best to plan ahead if you’ll be traveling this summer. If you have any questions about our high quality homecare services or would like to book a Personal Support Worker (PSW) to help care for your aging loved one, please contact us. Living Assistance Services is pleased to support seniors in Toronto, Mississauga and the surrounding communities.
What is respite care?
We’ve written about respite care before, but here’s a quick summary: it’s a short-term homecare service model that is personalized to the individual and/or family’s unique needs. It can be part-time, daily or 24 hours a day for as long as necessary (often one week, two weeks, a month or the entire summer). Respite care 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), whereas respite care offers short-term relief to the caregiver. This service is often in-demand during the summer months or over the holiday season when family caregivers are more likely to be unavailable.
Contact us to book a PSW in Toronto, Mississauga or the surrounding areas
If you already have your summer plans laid out, consider reaching out to our team now to make the necessary care arrangements for your aging loved one. Whether you’re a current client who needs additional care during the summer or a new client who requires temporary assistance, we’d be glad to answer your questions and provide a personalized quote. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful summer!