What is Respite Care

When it comes to caring for your loved one, we know it can become a full-time job. 

Respite care offers short-term relief for primary caregivers and family members. When you look after someone, it can become a 24-hour job. Family caregivers need a break here and there to look after their own needs. This is where respite care can help.

Respite care can take place at:

  • Your home
  • A daily care center
  • A residential center that offers overnight stays

Respite care breaks can be as long or short as our caregivers need. Depending on what fits your needs, you can set up respite care for a few hours, a day, a week, or as long as you need help.

When Should You Consider Respite Care?

If you are caring for a loved one, they may require extra care. Family caregivers sometimes need time to rest and relax, go on vacation, go to appointments, work, or exercise, and that is where the benefits of respite care come in. Comforting Arms offers a temporary rest to the family caregiver when you feel run down and need to take a break.

Respite care might benefit your loved ones if they can't be left alone or have a condition like:

  • A brain injury
  • Cancer
  • Dementia such as Alzheimer's
  • Blindness
  • Stroke

Respite care can be a simple short or long-term solution when caring for your loved one when other obligations begin to pull you away from your caregiving.

What Is the Importance of Respite Services?

There are quite a few reasons why you might look into respite care. We know that caring for a loved one can be draining and all-consuming, and Comforting Arms is here to provide you with a few benefits of respite care.

  • Relaxation - Taking a walk, reading a book, catching up on your tv show, or doing whatever brings you joy to decrease your heart rate and overall boost your mood.
  • Energy - To be effective and efficient in your busy life, taking the time to re-energize will leave you feeling more enthusiastic later.
  • Space - Even if you take a few hours off from the caregiver space, it will give you that time to clear your mind and help you find a renewed sense of purpose.
  • Pleasure - As a caregiver, we know you feel the need to care for your loved one at all hours of the day. However, you must remember that you have the right to enjoy life without feeling guilty. Putting energy into your feelings will help you better connect with your loved one in the long run.
  • Identity - When caring for a loved one, that becomes your full-time job. It is very easy to lose sight of what you enjoy, but you must remember you are just as important as your loved one!

You deserve a break, and we are here to help you be a family member to your loved one rather than a caregiver.

Respite Care Providers

Respite care offers a safe, comfortable place for your loved one while you are away or when you need a break. Services include:

  • Bathing
  • Feeding
  • Dressing
  • Exercising
  • Get in and out of bed
  • Medication reminders 
  • Companionship

Respite care providers assist family caregivers in day-to-day activities to offer temporary relief. Caregiving responsibilities will range depending on the type of respite care you are searching for and the duration.


How to find the best caregivers

What to Look for in a Potential Caregiver:

Here are a few things you should consider when looking for a potential caregiver for your loved one.

  • Caregiver fit. Someone can have all the credentials and experience necessary to assist your loved one, but they might not be the right fit if they lack compassion and heart. This will require you to go with your gut instincts and background checks to ensure no significant red flags. It is also essential to ask final candidates about their interests to see if they have some common ground with your loved one.
  • Credentials, Training, and Experience. Make sure you find a care provider with the right experience and credentials to provide for your loved one's needs, especially if they need assistance with activities of daily living or medication.
  • References. Do more than ask if they can provide references. Call them and talk openly to see if any hesitations or complaints indicate more significant issues. It would also be good to check their length of employment previously, especially if you are looking for long-term help. 

How to Find a Quality Caregiver:

Finding the right caregiver to assist you and your loved one through the senior years can be challenging, especially if you do not know what to look for. There are several different types of caregivers with varying degrees of credentials, so you will need to know what kind of caregiver you will need, what to look for in qualified caregivers, and how to hire a caregiver.

Before exploring the various types of caregivers, you should consider the logistics of the care you desire and the duration you will need the care. Depending on the care your loved one requires, you may need help from companions/homemakers, home care aides, or CNAs/PCAs. Each of these caregivers can perform their roles in the caregiving journey.

When looking for a caregiver for your loved one, there are a variety of people and resources you can look into to make sure you find the best possible caregiver for your loved one. 

  • Ask a doctor
  • Talk to a trusted friend or family member for recommendations
  • Search for local caregiving agencies and look at their reviews
  • Look into services like Care.com
  • Ask people on social media
  • Talk to your local chamber for guidance


Exploring Senior Caregiving Options

Companion Caregivers and Homemakers

Companions play an integral role in providing care when family members need a reprieve from their caregiving duties by providing care and comfort. These individuals can provide light housekeeping, meal prepping, companionship, and transportation to outings and appointments. They cannot provide hands-on care for patients, but they are there to be a companion to your loved one. At Comforting Arms, our caregivers are certified to provide hands-on care.

PCAs and CNAs

Patient care assistants (PCAs) are compassionate, highly skilled caregivers. PCAs work in our client's homes to provide patient comfort and care. PCAs duties and responsibilities include:

  • Traveling and arriving at the client's home on time.
  • Providing light housekeeping.
  • Running errands, either with or for the client, as needed.
  • Reminding the client to take medications and document them accordingly.
  • Providing companionship and engaging in conversations with clients.


CNAs are certified individuals who have completed a CNA programming course to administer medications, communicate with patients and their relatives, provide patient nutrition, take and record vital signs, provide wound care, and turn and reposition clients. CNAs can provide the same care as a PCA and their additional duties. 


In-Home Respite Care

Looking for a caregiver can be a daunting process, but once you have decided upon the required care, you will need to determine how to hire your potential caregiver. Often, seniors prefer care from the safety and comfort of their own home, and this is how you can find the perfect candidate to care for your loved one.

Using an In-Home Caregiver Agency

If you decide to use an in-home caregiver agency such as Comforting Arms, look into getting referrals from friends or check with the Better Business Bureau to review potential agencies' reputations. The primary appeal with using an agency is that they typically:

  • Screen each applicant carefully and check references
  • Ask them to provide credentials for confirmation.
  • Provide training
  • Handle essential paperwork such as contracts, legal matters, payroll, and taxes
  • Provide backup caregivers if regular staff is unavailable

An alternative to using a caregiver agency is a private duty that assists elderly individuals who require assistance with some of their day-to-day activities. Private duty is not covered by Medicare and is typically paid for by the client, which means that you will cover payroll, taxes, and liability if you choose this course of action for your loved one. By using an agency, your cost will come out to be less as agencies like Comforting Arms handle all of this for you.

FAQ's About Respite Care

What is the Difference Between Respite Care and Hospice Care?

Respite care is available to provide short-term relief for family members who take care of adults who need medical attention in a safe environment. Respite services encourage family caregivers to take a much-needed break when caring for their loved ones so they can have more energy, a clearer mindset, and a purpose when they are with them.

Hospice care providers offer a particular type of care that focuses on quality of life for people and their caregivers battling a life-threatening illness. Hospice care provides compassion when caring for people in the last phase of an incurable disease for a short period. Comforting Arms fills the gaps when hospice care is unavailable for your loved one.

Hospice care includes the following, which is beneficial to your loved ones as well as friends and family, which is covered by insurance:

  • Pharmaceutical management
  • Medical equipment
  • Support for loved ones after

How Long Does Respite Care Last?

The general nature of respite care allows for flexibility. A respite care provider may be hired for as short as a couple of hours or as long as a few weeks. If you need time in the afternoon to run errands or such, you can enlist the help of a caregiver for those hours. An event such as a vacation may prompt you to seek respite care for a few weeks.

What is the Difference Between Respite Care and Home Care?

Traditional in-home care focuses solely on the needs of older adults, while respite care is designed to benefit their primary caregiver, who is generally a family member. Respite care offers a short-term relief by providing trained individuals when you need to take a break.

Assisted Living Facilities

Respite care can be given in your house or at a senior living community for a limited time. Respite care may also be referred to as short-term care or assisted living when provided in senior homes.

The key difference between assisted living and respite care is purely in terms of duration. In most normal circumstances, a move to assisted living is permanent.

If you are interested in learning more about respite care services at Comforting Arms, visit our website for more information: https://comfortingarms.com/services/respite-care or give us a call at 678.819.3775.

Get the Service Your Family Elder Needs Today!

Whether you require elderly care or someone to help around the house. We'll create a care plan that works for your unique situation.Our mission is to help our clients and their families to fall in love with the future. At Comforting Arms, we know that one size does not fit all when it comes to home care.If you're searching for a personalized approach to elder home care, give us a call today.