Senior Health | April 13, 2022
What is Respite Care for Seniors? According to CARP, – Canada’s leading advocacy association for older Canadians – more than 8 million Canadians provided unpaid care to family members or friends. More than 1 million caregivers are older than 65. The Centre for Disease Control reports that over half (53%) of caregivers indicated that a decline in their health compromises their ability to provide care.
Caring for a senior loved one is both rewarding and challenging. Family caregivers need to remember that it’s important to take necessary breaks and practice self-care so they can ensure that they continue to find joy in their role.
The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) reports that 40 to 70 percent of caregivers exhibit clinically significant symptoms of depression.
Respite care is defined as the transfer of primary caregiving responsibilities to another person, typically a professional caregiver, relative or friend, for primary caregivers to receive temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. Respite care takes many forms – some family caregivers choose to have someone take on caregiver duties for a few hours a week or a few hours a day. Or, some schedule respite care for longer periods to accommodate an extended break or vacation.
This can be particularly important for those caring for a senior who has a severe illness. A study led by the Stanford Center on Longevity and Stanford University Psychology Department, which was conducted with assistance from Comfort Keepers and Clear Care, found that for older family caregivers:
The purpose of this study was to help identify the unique challenges and stressors that family caregivers face. As a partner in this research study, we reached out to the family members and decision-makers of approximately 2,000 Comfort Keepers clients.
These results suggest that older people have higher emotional well-being than younger people but not when they have a relative with a severe illness. Not all older people with ailing relatives have low well-being; rather, it depends on the severity of the relative’s ailment.
Caring for a senior loved one can be fulfilling and can strengthen bonds within a family. But it’s important to recognize that being a family caregiver can come with feelings of loss, stress and physical strain. Caregivers risk their health and wellbeing when they don’t account for their own needs or take a break when necessary, and respite care provides a convenient solution for many families.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help. Comfort Keepers®’ trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home.
Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).
Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs.
Learn more about our unique service offering by contacting the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.
References
CARP. “Caregiving by the Numbers.” Web.
Family Caregiver Alliance. “Policy and Advocacy.” Web.
Alzheimer’s Association. “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center: Respite Care.” Web. 2017
Stanford Center on Longevity. “Age and Emotional Well-Being: The Varied Emotional Experience of Family Caregivers” by Sarah Raposo, Jessica Barnes, Tamara Sims, Amy Yotopoulos, Lara Carstensen, Mary Bowman, Jacquelyn Kung. Web. 2017. Read more about the study here. https://www.comfortkeepers.com/family-caregiver-study
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