Are you thinking about coordinating a Respite stay?
Juggling the responsibilities of caregiving while also tending to your own, personal needs and responsibilities can be tricky. And if the right support system isn’t in place for you and your family, it can easily lead to burnout.
When you start to recognise signs of burnout, it’s important to ensure you’re able to prioritise your own care needs, and that’s where Respite Care can help.
Keep reading to learn what needs to be done prior to a Respite stay to ensure your loved ones are supported and well looked after.
What steps should you take prior to a Respite stay to prepare?
1) Identity the participant’s care needs
The very first step is to outline what the participant will need during Respite Care. This can include supports such as:
- Dailing living activities
- Routine care needs
- Community access and participation
2) Set the duration and location
The second step is to decide how long the participant will be in Respite Care for. This can range anywhere from a few hours per day to a few consistent weeks.
In addition to this, Respite Care can take place at home (in-home care) or in designated, short term residential properties. Figuring out which of these options would work best for your family, and the opportunities each one presents, is an important decision to make.
Either way, the intention is to provide a long enough, temporary break, that the caregiver can tend to their needs, rest and recharge, or accommodate any planned or unplanned absences as needed.
3) Preparation and goal setting
Prior to Respite Care beginning, it’s important that a comprehensive care plan is created to ensure high quality care and consistency with any routine care needs.
The participant should also be able to voice any specific needs or preferences that they might have for the duration of Respite Care. If the participant has any goals they’d like to factor into their Respite Care, this can include things like:
- Downtime and relaxation (especially if the participant is feeling stressed or overwhelmed).
- Skills-building (through local classes and activities, or even just building capacity at home).
- Social interaction (through group activities and social events).
Finally, a communication method and schedule should be agreed upon, so that the caregiver can continue to receive updates on how the participant is doing.
4) Identity caregiver needs
Finally, it’s important that the coordinated break is utilised well, so the caregiver should figure out what they need from this time. This also ensures the caregiver returns to caregiving re-energised, refreshed, and in a positive, healthy state.
Do you need time to rest and recharge? Or perhaps you’d like to practise self-care and participate in activities that bring you joy?
You may also choose to use this time to catch up with friends and maintain social connections, focus on your health and wellbeing, or tend to any personal responsibilities.
How can carers get Respite included in their loved one’s NDIS plan?
The NDIS takes into consideration reasonable expectations of families and carers when it comes to caregiving, so if Respite Care would add to your family’s support system, we encourage pushing for it to be included in your NDIS Plan.
Ready to plan a Respite stay?
Respite Care can be used to intentionally plan breaks into your schedule, or even to take a planned or unplanned absence from caregiving.
Either way, it provides a coordinated break and peace of mind, so that you can spend some time on yourself and know your loved ones are continuing to receive a high quality of care.
Get in touch with our team today to learn more and explore support options for you and your family.