Alzheimer’s Respite Care: How To Find Care For Your Loved One

Being a caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s is a journey that can include immense challenges. As the condition progresses, the caregiving role intensifies, often requiring around-the-clock attention and care.

While this path can be rewarding, it can also lead to significant stress, making respite care an invaluable tool in caring for your loved one.

If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, we’re here to help.

We’ll explain how Alzheimer’s respite care can help ease the stress of caregiving and introduce you to our professional care services at Always Best Care Senior Services, including respite care services and in-home care.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care is a form of temporary care that provides short-term relief for caregivers — particularly those caring for family members with disabilities, chronic illnesses (like Alzheimer’s), or other long-term care needs.

This type of professional care allows the sole caregiver to rest, run personal errands, work, or take a needed break from caregiving.

Respite care can be especially beneficial for caregivers who are looking after a loved one with Alzheimer’s — a disease that affects around 6.2 million Americans.

As a progressive condition, Alzheimer’s often requires around-the-clock care as it advances, which can be physically, emotionally, and mentally draining for caregivers.

Alzheimer’s Respite Care Options

As a caregiver, professional care services can help you maintain your physical, emotional, and mental health, while providing your loved one with the highest quality care

It can help prevent caregiver burnout and give you time to rest, recharge, and attend to your own personal needs.

Respite care options for patients with Alzheimer’s include:

1. In-home Care

In-home care, also known as companionship, is a type of care in which your loved one receives assistance from professional caregivers or health aides in the comfort of their own home.

Professional caregivers can help your loved one with minor housekeeping, such as dusting or taking out the trash, and provide other services, such as nutrition monitoring, meal preparation, and personal care services.

In-home care can be provided for different lengths of time — anywhere from a few hours to around-the-clock care.

2. Adult Day Care

Adult day care is a type of care in which your loved one receives assistance in a facility or community center.

This care option typically includes socialization and recreational activities, health monitoring, and basic care, such as medical and personal care.

Your loved one can stay at an adult day care facility for a few hours or for the whole day. Some adult day care centers offer transportation to and from the facility.

3. Residential Care

Residential care is a type of care in which your loved one stays at a care facility for an extended period of time — such as a nursing home or assisted living community.

This care option includes services similar to those found in long-term care facilities, such as meal provision, personal care assistance, medication management, and recreational activities.

Benefits of Respite Care

As the primary caregiver, you’re likely juggling multiple tasks, including your loved one’s needs and other commitments such as family, work, or household chores.

If left unaddressed, stress can accumulate and take a toll on your well-being, leading to caregiver burnout.

Respite care is a temporary solution that serves to help you manage care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s.

The benefits of respite care for your loved one include:

• Interaction with other patients: Respite care services — specifically those offered in a group setting, such as adult day care centers — can provide socialization opportunities for your loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Engaging with others in a safe and supportive environment can increase your loved one’s self-esteem and reduce their feelings of isolation or stress.
• Professional care: Respite care professionals are trained in dementia care. They understand the unique challenges and needs of clients with Alzheimer’s, allowing them to provide appropriate care to ensure their safety and well-being.

The benefits that respite care offers you as a caregiver include:

• Temporary relief: Because Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, the need for increased care and attention increases over time. Respite care can allow you to take a break from caregiving duties to recharge and attend to your own needs.
• Flexibility around your schedule: Respite care can be tailored to your schedule. For example, whether you have a 9-5 job, need to run last-minute errands, or just need a week away to unwind, professional caregivers can provide both short-term and extended care services.

Keep in mind that asking for help does not reflect your commitment to caring for your loved one.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, additional support from professional caregivers can help you maintain your physical, emotional, and mental health, which also plays an important role in being able to provide your loved one with the care they need.

How to Choose Respite Care for Dementia Patients

Choosing the type of respite care that works best for you and your loved one is the first step in ensuring that both of you are able to receive the support that you need.

Accepting help can often be difficult, but reliable caregiving professionals can give you the peace of mind that you need to take a step back and take a break.

To choose professional care for your loved one:

• Assess your needs: Evaluate the level of care and support needed for your loved one. Consider factors such as your loved one’s physical health, emotional well-being, and the stage of their dementia (whether mild or severe).
• Research care options: Look for care options in your area. Options include in-home care, adult day care centers, and residential care facilities.
• Check qualifications and experience: Ensure that the professional caregivers are vetted, trained, and insured. They should have a clear understanding and knowledge of the unique needs (a special diet, for example) and challenges that dementia patients face, so they can manage symptoms and provide compassionate care.
• Ask for references: Request references from family members or friends who have enlisted professional care services. This will give you an insight into their first-hand experience, helping you make a more informed decision on which care option to choose.
• Consider the organization’s flexibility: Choose a care option that offers flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs as a caregiver. This might include short-term or extended stays, or around-the-clock care.
• Visit the facility: If you’re considering residential or adult day care for your loved one, visit the facility and observe the environment, patients, caregiver interactions, and daily activities.
• Ensure safety measures are in place: For outpatient care, make sure the facility has emergency plans and safety measures in place, such as surveillance systems, identification and verification procedures, and secured entrances and exits.
• Review the activity programs: Make sure the facility provides activities tailored for patients with dementia to improve their overall well-being. This might include memory games, arts and crafts activities, music therapy, and gentle exercise, like yoga.

Alzheimer’s Respite Care at Always Best Care Senior Services

Always Best Care Senior Services was founded to reduce the stress often associated with caregivers looking for the ideal senior care. Our professional and compassionate team is committed to delivering trusted and reliable care for your loved one.

Operating in over 200 locations, we provide a personalized approach, crafting services tailored to meet you and your loved one’s unique needs.

At Always Best Care, our respite care options include:

1. Respite care: We provide temporary care for your loved one, offering you a chance to recharge, catch up on sleep, spend time with other family members, or run errands.
2. In-home care services: We offer a wide range of in-home services, including 24-hour care, nutrition monitoring, meal preparation, companionship, overnight care, and beyond, ensuring your loved one is looked after in the comfort of your home.

Our additional care services include:

3. Skilled home health care services: We build home care plans tailored for your loved one’s needs, whether they have special requirements or they are recovering from an illness. This includes managing chronic illnesses, and providing incontinence and toileting services, among other care services. This service is available at select agencies. 

4. Specialized home care services: We ensure close monitoring of your loved one’s health, using advanced care solutions and state-of-the-art technology.  

5. Senior living referral services: We can help you make informed decisions regarding living arrangements for your loved one. The assisted living communities we recommend offer comprehensive services, including 24-hour emergency care, medical services, personal care, housekeeping, and engaging social activities. 

6. Veterans assistance program: We extend support to our veterans by assisting with securing financial resources for their care, ensuring they receive the respect and attention they deserve. 

Respite care can provide temporary relief for you as a caregiver, helping you maintain your own health and well-being while looking after your loved one.

This type of professional care also ensures that your loved one receives high-quality care from professionals.

At Always Best Care Senior Services, we can guide you through the rewarding yet challenging journey of caregiving. Our compassionate and trained professionals step in so you can rest, while knowing that your loved one is taken care of.