| The words "respite care" are erroneously used to | | | | Appreciating the spare time provided means |
| refer to many short term care options for. Although | | | | governmental agencies recognizing that funding for |
| convalescing or terminally ill patients are sometimes | | | | these programs is vital for success of the at home |
| helped, it is actually the caregiver benefiting most | | | | care model. What are the different forms of support |
| from this type of care. Typically the caregiver is a | | | | care? |
| friend, loved one, or close family member providing | | | | Short term respite care encompasses perhaps only a |
| unpaid around the clock care. | | | | couple of hours or an evening off for the caregiver. |
| If a condition is not one that calls for hospitalization, | | | | This is frequently used for an evening out with |
| care decisions are made by the doctor. Insurance | | | | spouses, parent-teacher conferences, or |
| companies cut off funding for institutional care after | | | | stress-relieving shopping trips. |
| particular diagnoses are reached and sustaining care | | | | A longer short-term option is week long; this puts a |
| can be provided away from the institution. | | | | patient under the care of a competent professional |
| Given that today privately funded care is affordable | | | | caregiver who can take over when the family |
| to few, the preponderance of patients are placed | | | | caregiver is on a longer break. Both these short term |
| under the care of willing family members. | | | | alternatives are used at assorted times during the |
| In due course, family members reach a breaking | | | | year. |
| point. Typically, they have families of their own, | | | | Supportive respite care is necessary with a family |
| children to look after, jobs to carry out, homes to | | | | caregiver caring for two or more patients needing |
| keep up, and a horde of various responsibilities. | | | | home nursing or healthcare. The caregiver often |
| Previous to the advent of this type of care, there | | | | works side by side with the family caregiver, easing |
| was no one to take over patient care when | | | | their workload. In certain cases it is out of the home |
| caregivers had to tend to other responsibilities. This | | | | and duration varies conditional on the program |
| had resulted in cases of caregiver burnout, elder | | | | operating the respite center. |
| abuse and patient abandonment. | | | | |