Caregiver Breaks (Respite)
Are you a caregiver struggling to attend appointments, go to the grocery store, or meet with friends or family?
Caring for a loved one creates many challenges. PCOA is here to help you decrease stress and increase support and coping skills. It is critical that if you are a caregiver, you take time to attend to your personal needs and take a break from meeting the needs of the person or people you care for.
“Respite” is taking a break from caregiving responsibilities, which allows the caregiver to take care of themselves and tend to their needs. It is temporary relief, often a few hours at a time, through, sometimes it can be for longer periods.
What does respite care look like?
There are several types of respite care that can be arranged, depending on the situation and needs.
- Informal respite care can involve having a friend, family member, or neighbor come over to provide a break.
- Formal in-home respite care involves having a home care agency send a worker to the home to provide respite, often for 4-8 hours at a time, either weekly or as needed.
- Out-of-home respite can occur in an adult day center, where the care recipient spends several hours during the day. It can also be for longer periods at an adult care home or skilled nursing facility, where the care recipient will have a short-term stay of a few days or weeks.
You may qualify for respite care if you are an unpaid caregiver for a care recipient:
- Who is 60 or older receiving care, or
- Who is any age with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, or
- Who is age 18-59 with an intellectual or developmental disability, and
- With whom you live
To learn more about respite care options that best suit your situation or financial assistance opportunities, call (520) 790-7262 to speak with an Aging and Caregiving Specialist.
Please be aware that there is a waiting list to be assessed for eligibility to receive in-home services.
Additional Resources
Respite
Respite care provided by caregiving professionals allows you to have time off from caregiving and attend to your needs while ensuring that your family member or friend is well cared for.