Is Respite Care Provided in a Senior Living Center?
With such a high demand for elderly care, there has been a huge growth in the number of options for seniors to enjoy the latter years of their lives. Some prefer to stay at home with family while others go to a senior living center due to their need for specialized care due to sickness or disability. But there is one option that meets both worlds. Respite care is an option for the elderly to stay at a senior living center for a short period of time to gain back their strength after a hospitalization, recover from an illness or just have a professional to take care of them while their caregiver is away.
Respite Care in a Senior Living Center
Most senior living centers and other elderly care communities offer respite care as part of their service because they understand that caregivers at home also need a break. There are also times when a senior needs more specialized care than what their spouse, family member or even professional caregiver can provide.
Respite care can be used in several situations too. According to AARP, caregivers have the option to take advantage of respite care for their patients so they can still function as regular individuals. They can do their groceries, run errands and even take vacations without worrying that their elderly would be left alone to care for themselves.
Is Respite an Important Part of Elderly Care?
Perhaps the biggest benefit of respite care at a senior living center is consistency. While taking care of a loved one is such a rewarding job, caregivers also need time to take care of the other aspects of their life. But there has always been that concern of who will care of their patient while they are away.
Respite care fills that gap by taking over while a caregiver is away. This ensures consistency of care, which is highly needed for the elderly population without sacrificing the quality of life of caregivers.
Respite also offers the right environment for seniors to recover from an illness or hospitalization. As people age, it takes longer for them to get back to being active and healthy, especially since they’re not as strong and resilient as when they were younger. Respite care in a senior living center gives them the opportunity to regain their footing while having access to all the health services they require throughout the recovery process.
Community
Finally, staying in respite care offers seniors the chance to communicate and bond with people of the same age. The elderly usually have a hard time building strong relationships because of how they’re surrounded by younger people who may not understand them as much as people within their age group.
Being in respite care gives them the opportunity to get to know people and even build meaningful relationships with them. It gives them that sense of fulfillment knowing that they still matter and they are still capable of enjoying a good quality of life despite being in their later years.
Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead
