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As a
caregiver, you or the person whom you care for, may be entitled to a break
or rest from caring. Your social worker may help to arrange this.
Respite care may allow the tasks that you normally carry out for this
person to be undertaken by someone else.
Sadly, many caregivers do not or cannot take a break for several reasons.
Some councils and primary care trusts use their resources for services
that they consider higher priorities than respite. Or, some caregivers
either do not trust others to provide the care, or feel too guilty to
leave the one they look after.
In other circumstances, the person who receives care refuses to accept
respite, or to leave their home. This situation is a challenging one.
Social services and other service providers may agree to provide funding
and make arrangements for respite. Though they agree to respite, they
cannot force the person who needs care to accept the arrangements.
The caregiver has several options in these situations. The best solution
is to work with family and friends to either provide care to the person at
their own or the person’s home. This provides friendship and possibly a
more comfortable break for the person who needs the care. The respite
payment could then be used by the caregiver to go away to visit family or
friends, or just get away for a while.
In other situations, the respite payment could be used to help the person
who needs care to go to a care home that is near the seaside, family or
friends. This could provide a holiday approach that would benefit
everyone.
When the other approaches fail, the caregiver should work with the GP,
family members, and care manager to explain the vital need for the
caregiver to have a break. This tough love approach is very difficult for
the caregiver and adds to the guilt that they may feel.
Sometimes, the caregiver leaves the person they care for with either
friends and family or paid caregivers. The person who receives care enjoys
the break and accepts future respite with zeal. They may also treat the
caregiver with more respect and care after these breaks.
Caregivers need a break to protect their own emotional, psychological, and
physical welfare. If respite is not taken, the person needing care may
suffer sad consequences in this case. If the Caregiver’s health suffers,
they may become unable to care. They may even need care for themselves.
This could result in the person having to move to a care home permanently.
Caregivers and people with disabilities can receive vouchers for short
term respite breaks. Local authorities can provide vouchers, so that
clients have more freedom to choose when and where to take a break.
Please note that increasing the length of respite care beyond what was
originally agreed may be costly. Get the agreement in writing, even when a
care manager arranges a rate and dates of respite.
The care home may increase the price for the additional care. The care
home may also charge for other costs. Assume nothing.
Agree to the rates with the care home manager before extending the respite
stay. Get the agreement in writing, including the services and costs that
are included in your agreement.
Reprinted with permission from Caring Matters.
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If children live
with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
From Children
Learn What They Live, Dorothy Law Nolte |
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