What Is Elderly Respite Care?
Elderly individuals who decide to remain in their own homes as long as possible often need some level of care. Once a need for care is determined, the individual’s family usually steps in to figure out what services are available and affordable.
Home care is a broad term, so it’s important for families to do some research to find out what their relative needs, what kind of care is covered by insurance, and what they can afford to pay for on their own. After reviewing all of the information, most families determine that providing at least some of the care themselves is the most affordable and convenient option. While this can be a great arrangement, caregivers need a backup plan for when they are not available. We call this respite home care or short-term respite care. Elderly respite care is a temporary care plan that can cover a few hours or a few days, depending on the individual’s and caregiver’s needs.
Is Elderly Respite Care High-Quality Home Care?
Families who provide caregiving for an elderly relative usually have concerns about the quality of respite care. They worry that the provider will not engage their loved one in companionship and activities of daily living. Families who work with Linda’s Care can rest assured that no matter how short a home care visit is, it will be delivered with the utmost empathy and attention to the client’s comfort. Everyone at Linda’s Care understands how difficult it is to trust someone with the care of your loved one, but our priority is to make sure you can take time off with peace of mind.
We offer respite home care as a one-time service, as part of a regular schedule of service, or on an as-needed basis. Our goal is to be flexible and responsive to your family’s needs so that your elderly relative receives consistent, high-quality care. Some examples of senior respite care include:
A few hours a week so that the caregiver can take a break or manage personal business
Select days per month to fill in the holes where family care is not available
A short stay in the individual’s home while the family goes on vacation
Helping to provide round-the-clock care after a medical procedure or injury
Respite care is a very helpful resource for families who just need a little extra support in caring for their elderly parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle.
Is Elderly Respite Care Affordable in Philadelphia?
The cost of home care is one of the reasons many families decide to take care of their loved one on their own. Medicare coverage for home care is limited, and the individual may not be eligible for Medicaid. When private pay is the only option for outside care, families must work within their budget.
Respite care typically costs the same as ongoing private-pay home care. At Linda’s Care, we strive to help families work out a schedule that aligns with their budget and needs. Often, this means we provide short-term respite care to give full-time family caregivers some time off to rest, recharge, and keep up with their own personal needs. Until families learn about respite care, they often have the misconception that home care services can only be full-time. This leaves them feeling as though they can never take a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite care relieves you of all that stress and allows you to take a break knowing that your loved one will be well cared for.
If you are providing all the care for your loved one, you have options to get some downtime! Linda’s Care offers a great deal of flexibility in our respite home care services. Contact us to review your care schedule and anticipated needs, and we will work with you to ensure your loved one receives high-quality and compassionate care while you take a breather. Linda’s Care provides affordable and high-quality home care services in Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, and Delaware County.