Understanding respite care

Respite care gives a family caregiver a planned break while someone else looks after the person they care for. It isn’t a luxury. Caregivers who get regular breaks are better able to keep going, and the person receiving care often enjoys a new face and routine.

What respite can look like

• A few hours a week so you can work, run errands or rest.
• A regular afternoon or evening that you can count on.
• Overnight support so you can sleep through the night.
• Cover while you travel or recover from your own illness.

Signs you may need a break

• You feel tired most of the time, or your sleep is broken.
• You’ve stopped seeing friends or doing things you enjoy.
• Small things make you short-tempered, and you feel guilty about it.
• Your own health appointments keep getting postponed.

Making respite work

Start before you’re exhausted. Write down the daily routine, preferences and anything the caregiver should know, and introduce them while you’re still there for the first visit. Ontario Health atHome (310-2222) can tell you about publicly funded respite options, and private care can add flexibility around them.