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Every caregiver needs a break to prevent burnout and reduce stress. It's called respite, and can be anything from a hour's walk to a week-long cruise.
Occasional breaks from the responsibility not only provide welcome and necessary relief from the stresses of constant caregiving, but also can help your loved one enjoy other people and activities. The trick is finding reliable, affordable people to temporarily take your place. With more involved conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD), this can be more complicated and expensive, because your loved one's daily needs are often greater than with other diseases.
Respite care involves having a trained individual take over the caregiver role for short periods, in or out of the home. Some sources are paid; some are volunteer. But temporary substitutes give caregivers the freedom to go out of town, take vacations, get haircuts or go to doctor's appointments.
According to the Visiting Nurse Associations' "Caregiver's Handbook," the best type of respite care depends on your loved one's particular requirements, the amount of time you will be away, and the costs. If you need only a short break, try asking friends, neighbors and relatives to step in.
Medicare and most insurance policies do not cover respite care costs. Medicaid will cover the cost of short-term stays in nursing homes and for adult day care but only for those who meet financial and functional qualifications.
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