“Caring for a loved one sometimes means sharing the responsibility with someone else.”
Respite is often the most frequently requested and needed family support services. Respite is designed to help families and caregivers take a break from the daily responsibility of caring for an elderly or disabled relative or friend. Respite services have been shown to prevent or delay more costly out-of-home placements and keep all family members safe and stable in addition to:- Helping the caregiver maintain their own health and well being by giving them time to rest or attend to their own needs
- Preventing the early breakup of families by helping the caregiver remain on the job longer
- Keeping loved ones at home as long as possible
- Improving the caregivers’ ability and effectiveness to care through education and improved skill level
Services include an array of options consisting of:
- Companions/Homemakers
- Certified Home Health Aides
- Social and Medical Adult Day Care
- In-patient Care
- Caregiver Education
Why is Respite Important?
According to the Family Caregiver Alliance:
- 5.8 million people (families, friends and neighbors) provide care to persons age 65 and older who need assistance with everyday activities including supervision, taking medications, bathing, dressing, staying alone, and meals.
- About half of these primary caregivers provide care with no outside help whatsoever.
- These caregivers will spend on average 20 hours a week for 4.5 years providing care.
- One in ten caregivers become injured.
- 58% of caregivers show symptoms of clinical depression.
- A study of elderly caregivers (aged 66 to 96) found that caregivers who experienced mental or emotional strain have a 63% higher risk of dying than non-caregivers.
Working Caregivers
For those who work, caregiving does have an impact on their future. For example:
- 25% of all workers provide elder care.
- More than half (51.8%) of all caregivers for persons age 65 and older are employed full time and almost two-thirds (64.1%) are employed full or part time.
- Two-thirds of working caregivers have arranged their work schedule to meet their caregiving responsibilities by decreasing hours, taking unpaid leave or stop working all together.
- The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York predicts a loss of $659,000 in wages, social security, and pension contributions to the caregiving employee.
When is Respite Care needed?
- You feel burdened or isolated and need some relief from the constant responsibilities of caregiving for a frail elderly, chronically ill, or disabled family member or friend.
- When your work schedule or a hospitalization, illness, vacation, or life’s other circumstances make caregiving difficult.
- When you need assistance to cope with the overwhelming circumstances of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
- You are having difficulty finding time to attended to your own needs, family responsibilities or demands at work because of caregiving.
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior Affairs, Wellness and Family Support Program is a sponsor of the Respite Care and Caregiver Education and Support Programs at VHS.
