What is Respite Care?

Senior Health  |  April 13, 2022

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB Needs to Know About Respite Care

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.

What is Respite Care?

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.

Respite Care and How it Affects the Family Caregiver

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:

• Caring for a loved one with a mild illness generally leaves them in the same emotional state as their peers – with emotional well-being generally greater than that of younger adults.
• When responsible for a loved one with a severe illness, reported emotional well-being tended to be lower than those of their peers.
• The cause of a decrease in emotional well-being is attributed to the caregiver’s inability to pursue their social goals and friendships.

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.

Caregiver Fatigue and Respite Care

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 well-being 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.

Comfort Keepers® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help. We offer retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, and companionship care. Our care services also provide end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and more! 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ offers a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Empathetic caregiving starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs.

Home Care Edmonton

If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. 

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. Read more about the program HERE.

Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services. This demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton. Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Caregiving for Family and Friends – A Public Health Issue.” Web. 2019.

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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