HomeBlogPatientWhat is respite care, why do family caregivers need it, and how can they get it? What is respite care, why do family caregivers need it, and how can they get it? November 23, 2021Patient The expression, “You can’t pour from an empty cup” is of unknown origin, but the image is clear: If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help others. The Family Caregivers Alliance notes that there are 43.5 million caregivers in the US and that “a vast majority of caregivers (85%) care for a relative or other loved one.” Caregivers must take care to make sure they are healthy. Yet, many do not even go to the doctor. According to the Caregiver Action Network website, “nearly three quarters (72%) of family caregivers report not going to the doctor as often as they should and 55% say they skip doctor appointments for themselves.” The Family Caregivers Alliance warns against ignoring your own health and wellbeing. It uses the analogy of safety instructions given by flight attendants before planes take off: “Put on your own oxygen mask before you assist anyone else.” Translation: Only when we first help ourselves can we effectively help others. One very good way to take care of yourself is to take a break – a respite – from caregiving. What is respite care for caregivers? Respite care is taking a break from caregiving – it doesn’t mean discontinuing caregiving. “It gives caregivers the chance to relax, rejuvenate and recharge their batteries…to re-evaluate their situation, and re-identify as the caregiver they want to be,” Elisha Beard, the supportive services coordinator for the Adult Day Program at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, says in a Forbes article. While taking a temporary break is often good for one’s mood, attitude and mental health, many caregivers may feel guilty. They may feel that they don’t deserve a break or that they are not doing enough for their loved one. In fact, an article on Caregiver.com asks “why is it that the words ‘respite’ and ‘guilt’ seem to go hand in hand? Why do caregivers feel we are somehow failing our loved one by admitting that we need help, need time to recharge our batteries or just need time to play a bit?” Yet, caregivers should try to push aside feelings of guilt. Taking a break from your caregiving duties and finding respite care may help you refocus, recharge, and relax. “As a caregiver it is important that we recognize that it is OK to take a break from our caregiving duties,” according to the Caregiver.com article. “It is OK to feel tired, and want to have a break from caregiving! Not only is it OK, it is your right! You are allowed to stay healthy both physically and emotionally.” Setting up respite care First, caregivers should be sure that both the person in their care AND the temporary provider are ready for the change by: Informing the person being cared for about those who will be providing their care Providing a detailed schedule and emergency contact information Listing all instructions and details on menus, personal care and preferences, and specific emergency actions. Next is figuring out what kind of respite care you need. There are as many kinds of respite care as there are needs, both in-home and out-of-home and for children and seniors. A good place to start may be the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center (ARCH), which helps connect caregivers to respite care and information. “To be most effective, you should consider respite services much earlier than you think you will need them,” according to the ARCH website. “Respite will be most helpful if you use it before you become exhausted, isolated, and overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Respite services can be beneficial, meaningful, and enjoyable to both the caregiver and the care recipient.” The ARCH website offers the following publications: For children’s respite: “A Practical Guide to Respite for Your Family by Molly Dellinger-Wray and Monica Uhl with the Partnership for People with Disabilities (formerly the Virginia Institute for Developmental Disabilities), a university affiliated program at Virginia Commonwealth University Get Creative About Respite – A Parent’s Guide and Get Creative about Respite – What You Need To Know About Me from the Connecticut Lifespan Respite Coalition. Finding Caregivers and Respite Providers compiled by the SC Respite Coalition and Family Connection The Respite Notebook developed by the Child Neurology Foundation (updated 2017)” For adults and aging individuals: “Respite Care Guide: Finding What’s Best For You – The Alzheimer’s Association National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) guidelines and checklist for adult day service programs to help in choosing a center.” Other options for caregivers besides respite care “Respite care helps family caregivers restore balance in their lives. It allows caregivers to take the time to recover from the stresses of caregiving and gives them the flexibility to take care of other important aspects of their lives. Respite care is a necessary tool to support a caregiver’s success,” according to an article in Hospital News. Respite care is not the only option for caregivers. Many communities offer home care services for seniors, and adult day care services, as well as camps and other facilities for children. Additionally, there are local organizations providing different types of help – including family therapy, support groups, advocacy, and legal support. One overlooked area may be a caregiver’s relationships with other loved ones. For example, marriage counseling may be helpful. According to a Washington Post article, relationships and marriages can face strain and stress when parents are caregiving a child with special needs. The demands facing caregivers should be addressed as in any marriage, through communication and commitment. And, if that doesn’t work, through counseling. Additionally, it is important for caregivers – who are faced with significant mental, physical, financial, and other challenges on an ongoing basis – take care of their own health. Caregivers who are feeling sick or showing signs of exhaustion should visit their healthcare provider before these symptoms turn into long-term complications. For example, while sleep is a critical factor in ensuring one’s mental and physical health, it’s often a problem for caregivers. “Not getting enough sleep is a major cause of illness and stress in caregivers. Exhaustion is one of the main complaints, leading to irritability and then inappropriate anger which then leads to more guilt,” according to the Family Caregiver Alliance website. “Talk with your physician about medication for either yourself or your loved one to help with sleeping through the night.” Finding the right help and exercising self-care is critical. You need to “refill your cup” to ensure you are taking the best care of your loved one – and yourself. For more information, please visit: https://genesight.com/blog/patient/what-can-help-caregivers-deal-with-burnout/ https://genesight.com/blog/patient/stress-relief-methods-for-family-caregivers/ https://genesight.com/blog/patient/the-role-of-the-caregiver-making-the-difference-for-someone-with-depression/ Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... 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Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more
Patient Cyberbullying: Unique Challenges and Impacts ‘We lost our daughter to cyberbullying.’ McKenna Brown was an accomplished hockey player and scholar, known for her kindness, when she became the target of int... Read more
Going Beyond Green, Yellow, Red on the GeneSight Report This blog summarizes key points discussed during the March 2024 GeneSight® Engage webinar Participants: Bernie Ranchero, MD, MS, MBA, medical direc... Read more
Healthcare Provider Top 5 Reasons Patients Stop Their Mood Disorder Treatment Mood disorder treatment for depression can be challenging – and patients may become frustrated when treatments don’t work. In fact, when people with depres... Read more
Patient The Impact of Gratitude on Depression and Anxiety “Say ‘Thank you,” a mother reminds her young kiddo. “T.G.I.F.!” we cheer at the end of a long week. We know it’s important to be thankful. But do we ... Read more
Patient The Silent Thief: The 5 Things Depression Can Steal “Depression is a thief,” writes Abhinav Chaurasia, a marketing automation specialist in an essay on LinkedIn. “It steals your joy, your motivation, and your abi... Read more
Patient How to Talk to Your Doctor about Anxiety Medication “When I was 27, I felt bad all the time,” writes Joanna Goddard on the popular Cup of Jo blog. She describes her initial experience with anxiety in detail. ... Read more
Healthcare Provider Building Trust by Reducing Bias: The GeneSight Test as a Tool for Mental Health Equity This blog summarizes key points discussed during Myriad Mental Health’s July 2022 Webinar: Building Trust by Reducing Bias: The GeneSight Test as a Tool for Men... Read more
Patient Anxiety and older adults: What to look for and how to help “It’s not how old you are. It’s how you are, old.” - French author Jules Renard Mental health is important at every age. But when people experience an a... Read more
Patient Adult ADHD: Symptoms, treatment, where to start Many people may incorrectly think ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, only impacts children. After all, according to the Centers for Disease C... Read more
Healthcare Provider It’s time to talk suicide: addressing stigma around a difficult topic Trigger Warning: This webinar discusses suicide. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. ... Read more
Patient Stress Relief Methods for Family Caregivers Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding and meaningful experience. However, the day in and day out of taking care of someone who is unwell also can be challen... Read more
Healthcare Provider Healthcare Professional Burnout and Links to Depression When Dr. Lorna Breen, an ER doc in Manhattan, died by suicide in April 2020, it opened up a public discussion about the burdens faced by healthcare professi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Antidepressant Withdrawal or Depression Reoccurrence? What Healthcare Providers Should Know People who stop taking antidepressants may do so for many reasons: they may feel like it isn’t working, may feel unable to cope with side effects, or may not fe... Read more