November is National Family Caregivers Month. The 2021 theme is #CaregiverAnd which encourages family caregivers to celebrate the passions and interests that enrich their lives. Carers deserve to live a fulfilling life enjoying hobbies and leisure time, too. It’s important to consider the support that carers need for their own health and wellbeing. For carers to continue their caring role, they must be supported to ensure they don’t burn out or suffer health problems themselves. This is where live in respite care comes in.
Respite care can offer regular carers a break so they can rest and recharge. This could be for a few hours a week to allow them to enjoy a hobby or visit friends. Alternatively, live in respite care can provide carers with a longer break so they can fully recharge, go on holiday or make a longer visit to family or friends.
Often carers feel guilty for taking a break. However, if you are a carer you need to look after your own health and wellbeing, too. Taking regular breaks to rest and recharge reduces the risk of burnout. In addition, when you are healthy and happy you are better able to support your loved one. Regular breaks to enjoy other activities can help carers remain positive and feel good. This ultimately makes them a better carer for their loved one so it’s a win-win situation.
If you care for your loved one at home, you can have a respite carer come to stay in your own home. This reduces the disruption to your loved one as they can stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own home and stick to their regular routines.
Here are some of the benefits of live in respite care:
- Live in respite care allows carers to maintain their own social life and interests
A welcome break allows carers to enjoy activities that improve their health and wellbeing. Whether you need a break to pursue a hobby, get some exercise or visit friends, respite care can make this easier. Planned breaks from caring ensure that you do not become exhausted and overwhelmed. This ultimately makes you a better carer, helping you stay positive and patient with the demands of caring for a loved one.
- The right support helps carers to continue caring for longer
With the right support, carers can continue to care for longer than if they become overwhelmed and exhausted. Unfortunately, sometimes carers must resort to long term care for their loved one as they can no longer cope. Additional respite care can lighten the load and help the carer manage for the longer term.
- Improved relationship between carer and cared for
Respite care can often improve the relationship between the carer and the cared for. It is hardly surprising that if two people are together for long periods, this can put a strain on the relationship. Add tiredness and health problems to the situation and the relationship can really suffer.
When a carer has a fortnight’s break to pursue their own interests and fulfil their needs, they come back to caring with renewed energy, compassion and patience which helps the relationship. In addition, the carer has new things to talk about with their loved one.
- Live-in care allows the person receiving care valuable interaction with other people
Just as a carer needs a break from caring, sometimes the cared-for person benefits from interaction with other people. It’s nice to have someone new to talk to and share activities with. Often deep friendships are built between carers and their clients which adds a fulfilling aspect to both their lives.
In addition, the cared-for will enjoy having new experiences to share with their regular carer on their return.
- Respite care helps protect the health of older carers
A study made by Age UK in 2010 found that respite care was protective to the health of older carers, allowed them to maintain their own social life and interests and allowed them to continue caring for longer.
Older carers may struggle with the demands of caring for a loved one. They will benefit from planned breaks to rest and recharge. In addition, carers may need respite care to attend appointments, take exercise and look after their own needs to ensure they stay well and can continue to care for their loved one for as long as possible.
Mumby’s live in respite care
At Mumby’s, we offer flexible live in respite care to support your loved one with their care needs whilst you have a much-needed break. You can rest assured that your loved one will be well looked after by one of our warm and caring live-in carers in the comfort of their own home offering minimal disruption.
If you feel that live -in respite care may benefit you and your loved one, call us today on 0800 505 3511 for a friendly, no-obligation chat about your needs.