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Benefits of Respite Care at a Senior Living Community

Benefits of Respite Care at a Senior Living Community

There are many reasons family members and even close friends choose to become informal caregivers for an aging loved one at home. In fact, more than 53 million adults in the U.S. provide unpaid care to someone over the age of 50, according to a recent AARP report. Whatever the circumstances, one thing is common to family members who take on this selfless role — they are at risk for experiencing significant personal stress, both mentally and physically.

Senior caregiving is a taxing responsibility, after all, especially when a progressive medical condition is involved. There are medications to manage, assistance with feeding, toileting, bathing and dressing, and dealing with special equipment, often with escalating needs as the condition progresses.

As geriatric researchers began to recognize the physical and mental tolls of unpaid caregiving by family members, often referred to as “caregiver burnout,” an important support option known as respite care has grown in popularity.

What Is Respite Care and Why Is It Important?

With so much time spent giving of themselves, informal caregivers often forget or forgo their own rest, self-care and taking regular “me time” — all behaviors necessary for good physical and mental health. Research shows that 40% to 70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression. And an estimated 17% to 35% of family caregivers view their health as fair to poor.

Taking advantage of respite care resources in your community is a valuable solution that every caregiver should consider. Respite care is defined as short-term care relief that can involve an amount of time from an afternoon to several days or weeks. It can be a huge help for caregivers to do everything from simply relaxing to running errands, taking care of work commitments, spending time with their children, attending events and more.

In addition to hiring a professional in-home respite caregiver or utilizing adult daycare services for short-term needs, another option is arranging a long-term stay with care services at a retirement community like Stevenson Oaks in Fort Worth, Texas.

The national average cost for respite care in a retirement community is $141 a day, but much depends on the facility, level of care needed and the location. In some situations, Medicare will cover most of the cost of up to five days in a row in respite care for hospice patients. For example, if the caregiver becomes ill, is suffering from physical or emotional exhaustion per a practitioner’s assessment or needs to attend a family event such as a wedding or funeral. It should be noted that some Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits, and a Medigap plan may help with this out-of-pocket cost, but you’ll need to confirm this with your insurance providers.

When you think about it, caregivers can only give their best when they are at their best. For the welfare of your loved one, and absolutely for the good of your own health and well-being, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with respite care options in your community —and to use them without hesitation or guilt.

Respite Care Services at Stevenson Oaks

Stevenson Oaks is a Methodist retirement community offering a full range of living options, from independent living to assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation. The community is also set up to provide compassionate, comprehensive respite care within all of these areas.

Whether your senior loved one needs moderate daily assistance because of physical impairments or requires round-the-clock attention in a memory care setting, rest assured, our professional care staff will provide it with the same attention, skill and kindness that our permanent residents receive.

Our goal with respite care is to give you the break you need to re-energize and pay attention to your own well-being. We understand how important time away from such demanding responsibilities is for your health and for your loved one’s best care.

We’re Here to Help

If you’d like to learn more about respite care at Stevenson Oaks, reach out to us with your questions and concerns. We’d also be happy to give you a tour of our community. Every caregiver needs a shoulder to lean on. That’s why we’re here.

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