Taking care of an elderly loved one can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. Caregivers often find themselves putting their own needs and well-being on hold to care for their loved one. This can lead to caregiver burnout, stress, and other health problems. That’s where respite care comes in.
Maybe you’re the primary caregiver for your parent and want or need a little break from your regular caregiving responsibilities. Maybe you have surgery planned and know that you’ll need more care afterward than a family member can provide for you at home. Or maybe you (or your loved one) want to come spend some time with us to see if our community is a good option for long-term care, whether it’s assisted living, memory care, or behavioral health. Short-term respite care available at Park Senior Villas might be just what you’re looking for.
If you’re not familiar with short-term respite care, that’s okay! We’ve compiled a list of the questions we hear most often, along with our responses. If there’s something we haven’t covered here, we encourage you to get in touch with us. We’ll gladly answer any questions you have.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is a temporary care service that provides relief for caregivers of elderly or disabled loved ones. Respite care can range from a few hours of care to several days or even weeks, depending on the needs of the caregiver and the loved one they care for. Respite care can be provided for a variety of individuals, including:
- An individual who recently had surgery or a medical event (e.g., a heart attack or stroke) and needs care during the recovery/rehabilitation period
- Someone who needs a little assistance with daily activities
- A person living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia
- Someone who is considering a longer-term stay in the community and wants to give it a trial run
Respite care can provide caregivers with a much-needed break from their caregiving responsibilities. This break can allow caregivers to take care of their own health and well-being, attend to other responsibilities, or simply take some time to relax and recharge.
How Long Is A Respite Stay?
That’s up to you. It can be for a day or overnight. Even a week, a month, or longer. It depends on your situation.
If you are providing care for your parent and need someone else to take over for an afternoon or evening while you go to your child’s school event, we can help. Perhaps you need to have a date night with your spouse, or you have a work commitment, or a vacation planned. We can help.
Another scenario we see at times is when an older adult comes to visit the family from out of town and shouldn’t be left alone all day while everyone’s at work or school. We can help.
We’ve had people stay in our communities for several weeks for short-term respite care following a medical event or an injury while they’re participating in physical and/or occupational therapy. We’ve also had people decide after being with us for respite care that they want to stay and make our community their permanent home.
What Does Respite Care Offer The Person Who’s Staying With Us?
Anyone who stays with us for respite care receives the same kind of care as full-time residents. That is personalized care that’s appropriate for their needs. Whether they’re in assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, or another care program.
We offer an environment that’s very much like the individual’s own home. So, he or she will feel comfortable right away. We provide three delicious, dietician-approved meals every day in a family-style dining room right there in the villa. These meals can easily accommodate special diets. Our 8:1 resident-to-caregiver ratio means our dedicated caregivers are highly attentive. Plus, they’re on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Park Senior Villas also has a full-time, on-site clinical staff.
In addition, everyone in our communities can participate in our activities and daily socials. This includes those who are staying with us for short-term respite care. Our Activities Director and the rest of the team make sure there are always plenty of appropriate options for social interaction, enhancing one’s physical well-being and just plain having a good time. For those in our memory care program, we offer activities that not only are fun but are also developed specifically to stimulate memory and cognition.
Family members are often surprised to see the positive impact of our personalized care when they come to visit (or pick up) their loved ones. Our staff doesn’t just provide care. They truly do care—and it shows.
How Does Respite Care Benefit The Caregiver?
All caregivers need a break from time to time. Taking care of someone else full-time can be stressful even under the best of circumstances. Trying to do too much for too long can cause anyone to burn out. Emotionally, physically, mentally, and sometimes in all of those ways.
Respite care provides that well-deserved break. It frees up time that caregivers can use to decompress and take care of other important aspects of their life. For example, spending quality time with their spouse and children, catching up on errands or household tasks, or simply enjoying some quiet time alone.
We realize that it’s not easy to trust others when it comes to caring for a cherished family member. Our staff members provide (and encourage) regular, interactive communication with the primary caregiver and other family members for the duration of a person’s respite stay with us. When a caregiver can completely relax, knowing that his or her loved one is receiving excellent care in a comfortable environment, the peace of mind that respite care provides is priceless.
How Can You Not Feel Guilty About Leaving Your Loved One With ‘Strangers’?
If you’ve read through the previous questions, then you can see how respite care can be a win-win choice for families. Our staff has a knack for making new people feel welcome and at ease. And the neighborhood setting with the individual villas is an inviting environment. It’s not like being in a large, impersonal, institutional setting, where a person’s needs might be attended to but the actual person is on their own.
We go out of our way to help you, the primary caregiver, feel at ease too. After all, that’s the purpose of respite care.
If it helps, remind yourself that socialization is an important part of providing an enhanced quality of life. Your loved one will have the opportunity to interact with our devoted and highly trained staff members, participate in activities that are appropriate for his or her level of care (e.g., assisted living or memory care), and engage with other adults of similar age. In other words, your family member will be in an environment where he or she can thrive socially—and in other ways as well.
In addition, you’re able to give yourself a break from your caregiving routine. You’ll have a chance to catch up in other areas of your life and renew your energy. That can be helpful to both of you when your loved one returns home. Whether they return the same day or several weeks down the road, you’ll be more refreshed for caregiving.
Do All Senior Living Communities Offer Respite Care?
Senior living communities are one of the most popular options for respite care. These communities offer a range of services and amenities that can help keep your loved one safe, comfortable, and engaged. Many senior living communities offer short-term respite care stays, which can range from a few days to several weeks.
During a respite care stay at a senior living community, your loved one will have access to 24-hour care, medication management, meals, and a variety of activities and social events. This can provide peace of mind for caregivers, knowing that their loved one is in a safe and supportive environment.
Tips for Booking a Short-Term Respite Stay
When booking a short-term respite stay at a senior living community, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Book in advance: Respite care can fill up quickly, so it’s important to book well in advance.
- Visit the community: Before booking a respite care stay, visit the community to ensure it is the right fit for your loved one.
- Ask about pricing and payment options: Make sure you understand the cost of the respite care stay and what payment options are available.
- Provide a detailed care plan: Make sure to provide the senior living community with a detailed care plan for your loved one, including any medications, dietary restrictions, or other special needs.
Is In-Home Respite Care an Option?
Yes, in-home respite care is an option for caregivers who need a break from their caregiving responsibilities. In-home respite care providers can provide care for a few hours a day or for several days at a time.
In-home respite care providers can assist with a variety of tasks, including personal care, meal preparation, medication management, and transportation. They can also provide companionship and socialization, which can be especially beneficial for seniors who are isolated or have limited social connections.
Other Respite Care Options
In addition to in-home care and senior living communities, there are other respite care options available. For example, some adult day care centers offer respite care services, allowing caregivers to drop off their loved one for a few hours or a full day of supervised activities and care.
Do We Provide a Care Assessment?
At Park Senior Villas, we complete an evaluation before bringing anyone into our communities for respite care. That way, we have a clear understanding of what an individual needs. Then, we can create a personalized service plan based on the evaluation and doctor’s orders.
We generally group those who require memory care together in the same villas and do the same for those in assisted living. Staff members are assigned to the same villa on an ongoing basis to help establish familiar relationships. Checks and balances are in place to ensure that each person’s care needs are met promptly and completely.
How Much Does Respite Care Cost?
The usual cost is $250 per day for a 14-day respite stay and $200 per day for a 30-day stay.
Financial Assistance for Respite Care
Paying for respite care can be a challenge for many families, but there are options available to help cover the costs. Medicaid may provide coverage for respite care services, depending on the state and the specific program. Some long-term care insurance policies may also cover respite care. Additionally, there are nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations that offer financial assistance for respite care to eligible individuals and families.
Do You Need To Bring Your Own Furniture?
No. But we encourage you to bring a few familiar items from home to personalize the room that you (or your loved one) will have during the respite stay.
What If You Decide To Extend The Stay?
We would love the opportunity to welcome you or your loved one as a full-time resident. You can count on us to continue providing exceptional care at whatever level is required—now and in the future.
We would also encourage your caregiver (or you, if you are the caregiver) and other family members to provide as much support as possible because family relationships can make such a difference. And for people in memory care, family members are naturally the best historians.
Find Senior Respite Care Near You
We have four communities across sunny Arizona – one in Chandler, AZ, another in Goodyear, AZ, and two in Tucson, AZ. However, if you or your loved one are located in another state, there are resources available to help you find the right provider. Websites like A Place for Mom and Care.com can help you search for senior living communities and in-home care providers in your area. You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging for assistance with finding respite care options and financial assistance programs.
Take A Test Run.
An easy way to see if one of the Park Senior Villas communities is a possibility to further explore, for yourself or a loved one, is to come enjoy one of our Movie Night in the Park events. If you’re checking us out for respite care for a family member, you can stay and watch the movie with your loved one, or you can let us take care of her, or him, while you go do something else for a few hours.
From there, you can decide whether to try a day-stay or an overnight visit … or longer, if you’re ready.
At the very least, why not let us arrange an in-person or virtual tour at the Park Senior Villas community of your choice? Just give us a call at (602) 354-8100, or you can fill out our contact form and we’ll respond via email.
Either of those options will work, too, if you have other questions and want more information about short-term respite care at Park Senior Villas. You might also be interested in reading about our personalized care home model and how it sets us apart from other senior living communities.
