What Is Respite Care and How Can It Benefit Seniors and Their Families?

What Is Respite Care and How Can It Benefit Seniors and Their Families?

By Team Writer | January 29, 2025

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Caring for an older loved one in their home presents many challenges for families. Family caregivers often find they are overwhelmed and burned out trying to juggle responsibilities at home, at work, and with their loved one. Sometimes it feels like caring for an older loved one is a never-ending responsibility, one that is impossible to step away from. One way to keep a balance, however, is to take advantage of a respite care stay at a senior living community. Respite care offers a well-earned reprieve for caregivers and a number of benefits for seniors as well.

Understanding respite care

Respite care – or a respite stay – is a short-term stay in a senior living community that can provide for all a loved one’s needs in a safe environment. As noted in the usnews.com article, “What Is Respite Care and Where Can I Find Respite Caregivers Near Me?” respite care can be used for a long weekend, a few weeks, or even a few months, allowing caregivers to rest, take a vacation, or catch up at work. In respite care at Presbyterian Homes of Kentucky, our seniors enjoy all the services and amenities of assisted living so they are not only well cared for, but become part of a fun, active, and enriching community of friends.

How respite care can benefit caregivers

Many family caregivers gladly take on the role of caregiver without realizing how much time and energy it can require. Caregiving may start out as providing a little weekly help with home maintenance and cleaning, but over time can evolve to include daily meal preparation, help with bathing and dressing, transportation to and from appointments, and medication management. As the needs increase, caregivers can suffer exhaustion and subsequent negative health consequences. 

According to the caregiver.org article, “Caregiver Statistics: Health, Technology, and Caregiving Resources,” one study found that 17% of caregivers reported worsened physical and mental health, and another found that 14% of caregivers reported fair to poor health in the first year, with that number increasing to 20% after five years. In addition, caregivers caring for a spouse, those age 65 or older, and those caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease reported even higher rates of mental and physical health problems.

Respite care can be the perfect solution for seniors and their families, though. Caregivers not only get time off when they need it most, they have the added benefit of peace of mind knowing their loved one is in the hands of caring professionals while they get their lives back on track. To learn more about how to make respite care part of a senior’s overall care plan, check out the aarp.org article, “Respite Care: How to Give Yourself the Caregiving Break You Need.” 

Why seniors should embrace respite care

Aging in place at home is great… until it isn’t. Loneliness, isolation, mobility problems, and loss of spouses and partners can make it hard to enjoy a full and independent life. Respite care, however, can be a gift for seniors who miss engaging with others, sharing interests, and just having fun. Rather than facing the burden of empty hours each morning, seniors at Presbyterian Homes of Kentucky receive all the help they need when they need it, eat three hot nourishing meals with friends every day, and can enjoy being involved in activities like crafts, games, exercise classes, movies, musical performances, and special trips and events planned throughout their stay. 

Seniors in respite care quickly find they are no longer sad, bored, or lonely and look forward to each new day as if they are on vacation at a resort. Best of all, they know they are safe and secure and no longer a burden on loved ones. In fact, for many seniors, a respite stay often becomes the catalyst for a move to senior living, once they realize how much they have been missing in their lives.

Ways to pay for respite care

One of the greatest perceived hurdles for many families with limited resources is the cost of respite care, but there are options to consider. As noted in our blog, “Paying for Senior Living: Funding Sources to Know,” seniors are often surprised to learn that life insurance can be an easy source of funds and veterans benefits, Supplemental Social Security and other government benefits may also be available to those who qualify. 

If it all seems too complicated, Presbyterian Homes of Kentucky can help. We have professionals who can help families sort out the options, assess the level of care needed, and create a plan that works for seniors and their caregivers. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a tour.