Respite care or seeking help
Do you feel that you actually need a break from caregiving, but aren’t sure how to arrange it? Respite care means that someone else temporarily takes over the care. This could be for a few hours, part of a day or sometimes longer. The aim is to allow you to recover and cope better with the caregiving. Many informal carers find this step difficult. Perhaps it feels as though you are letting the other person down. Or you may doubt whether someone else will provide the care well enough. Yet temporary help may actually be necessary to enable you to remain involved without becoming overwhelmed.
What do you notice?
The need for respite care or extra help often arises when informal care becomes (too) burdensome on a long-term basis.
You may, for example, notice that:
- you have hardly any moments of rest;
- you can no longer let go of your worries about your healthcare;
- you feel tired or tense more often;
- you have little time for work, family or yourself;
- you are daunted by care responsibilities;
- you get irritated more easily;
- you are sleeping poorly because of worries;
- if you are not sure who can help;
- you are worried that your loved one will not accept help from others.
Sometimes it’s a step in the right direction if someone takes on just a small part of the work. Help doesn’t have to be on a grand scale straight away.
