Understanding Respite Care Options For Home Health Care Patients

The families that benefit most from home health care are those who become familiar with the variety of options available for assistance. Respite care offers a valuable opportunity for caregivers to manage their private time and have relief from the exhausting effort of caring for a loved one. The services allow people to customize care in a way that works best for them and their families.

Useful for Hospice Patients

About 50 percent of Medicare recipients receive end-of-life hospice care, and respite services can benefit everyone involved. Hospice allows those with terminal illnesses to remain in their home. The service includes advice and assistance from professional medical staff, but family and friends often provide primary physical care.

Professional respite care, accessed through the hospice service or another medical provider, is an additional option when receiving hospice services. Respite workers take over for the caregiver to allow them a break, and the patient continues to have the care they need. 

Accessible to Any Patient

People not enrolled in Medicare or hospice benefits can use respite care. Primary home health caregivers can access the services for any individual. The break can occur regularly, randomly throughout the year, or on one occasion. The care can continue in the home, at a nursing facility, adult daycare, or other facility.

Patients under respite care can include people of any age and with any degree of disability or severity of illness. Professional respite care workers are medical providers that perform whatever service the caregiver would provide. The tasks may include medical care and housework, bathing, and other personal care.

Beneficial for Primary Caregivers

Many caregivers who provide care to a disabled or ailing loved one also have jobs outside the home and additional family to consider. Sometimes the caregiver is also elderly or suffering from medical conditions that need care. Respite services allow these people the time away from a schedule that often overwhelms people emotionally and physically.

Using respite care can offer as much benefit to the caregivers as it does to the patient. People do not need to miss important events like a family wedding or a high school reunion. Caregivers can take vacations with their families, receive medical treatment, or have an afternoon off to shop, relax, or do whatever they need or want.

Home health care enables families to stay together and for the patient to have a comfortable and familiar environment. Respite care allows the caregivers of these individuals to have the time off they need for any reason. Like many home health care options, the service benefits everyone involved.

Contact a local company to learn more, like Shower Power Home Care.


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