Hospice care is designed to provide compassionate end-of-life care for ill patients. It is usually chosen when the patient has 6 months or less with their loved ones. Naturally, it is a time of great emotional complexities for the patient and also their loved ones and family.
But looking after a terminally ill person can take an emotional as well as physical toll. Coupled with the fact that diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia can drastically change the behavior of the patient, dealing with the mental and physical decline of your loved one is not easily acceptable. Caregivers may experience extreme mental burnout and nervous breakdowns.
Hospice respite care is designed to address this very issue. In fact, it can help you become a better caregiver for your loved one. But how?
In this article, we will answer this very question. Let us jump right in!
What is Hospice Respite Care?
When looking after a seriously ill person becomes a 24-hour job (as can happen in cases of illnesses like dementia or cancer), the demands of the role become too much for a single person to handle comfortably. Personal space and me-time are essential parts of a healthy brain, and full-time hospice care leaves caregivers with no option but to relinquish all of these necessities.
Respite care helps by arranging a temporary caregiver who can take your place while you go and take care of your personal necessities. That may include anything ranging from completing household chores to receiving psychological counseling.
It can take place:
- In your home
- At daycare centers
- Residential centers that may also offer overnight stay
When Do You Need Hospice Respite Care?
If caring for a person is making you miss out on basic personal necessities, like cooking, shopping, or showering, it is advisable to arrange for respite care so that you can focus on your important tasks. If you are in charge of a person who suffers from any of the following conditions:
- Cancer
- Brain Injury
- Alzheimer’s or Dementia
- Stroke
- Blindness
Then, you will most likely need respite care.
How Can You Pay for Hospice Respite Care?
Medicare covers hospice care as part of numerous “benefit periods.” During each benefit period, medicare pays for 5 consecutive days of respite care. This also includes the transport charges to bring the patient to a Medicare-approved facility or hospital. You can avail of these benefits more than once per period, but only on an occasional basis.
The Hospice respite care period must not be greater than 5 consecutive days. It includes the day of intake of the patient, but not the day of discharge.
Before requesting respite care, keep in mind the following:
- The procedure must be prearranged and approved by the hospice provider.
- Continuous home care is not covered under this.
- It is generally not appropriate for hospice patients in nursing facilities with 24/7 care.
Top Benefit of Hospice Respite Care for Caregivers
Hospice Respite care benefits the caregiver by:
- Recharging their energy levels: Taking a break from continuous caring allows the caregiver to relax and recharge for the upcoming period. It also helps them refocus and conserve mental energy.
- Allowing them to focus on self-care: Caregivers can take time to complete pending chores and look after their well-being. Activities like showering, shopping, or just reading a book go a long way in increasing positive emotions.
- Regulating sleep patterns: Full-time care messes with the caregiver’s sleep pattern, as they have to be always available. Breaks can help get their sleep pattern back on track.
How do Patients Benefit from Hospice Respite Care?
For patients, benefits are manifold, including:
- Reduced anxiety over the situation: New surroundings help patients feel relaxed. They also feel free from the burden of requiring care from their loved ones 24/7.
- Less isolation: Patients have a better chance of socializing during respite care periods. They may strike up friendships with other patients or even feel good at getting out of the house.
- Improved bond with the caregiver: With the patient and the caregiver stepping away from each other for a while, it allows them to think about the situation with a clear mind and form better connections with each other when the usual care routine resumes.
A Step-By-Step Guide on Avoiding Caregiver Burnout
Burnout happens when your emotional and physical needs are not being met while you devote yourself to taking care of your charge. You may start missing your own doctor appointments, stress eating, or not eating at all. In the end, all the accumulating exhaustion catches up with you, leaving you unable to accomplish even the simplest tasks. This condition is termed burnout.
To tackle burnout effectively, the most important step, of course, is to take regular breaks from your caregiving duty by enlisting the help of your friends, family, or professional respite care providers.
- Talking to a mental health professional: Opening up about your struggles to a professional helps you deal with your tangled-up emotions and make sense of the situation you find yourself in.
- Don’t miss your own appointments: In the heat of the situation, you should not forgo your medical needs. Make sure to attend doctor appointments and make room for self-care.
- Eat well-balanced meals: When feeling emotionally overwhelmed, we either tend to overeat or not eat at all. It is important to maintain a balanced, healthy diet. Incorporate mood-boosting foods like leafy greens and blueberries to support both nutrition and brain health.
- Set realistic goals: Be upfront about what you can and cannot achieve. It helps keep your self-expectations in check, and as a result, you don’t overextend yourself.
- Accept your negative feelings: It is natural to have negative feelings, especially with regard to a mentally taxing situation like hospice care. Learn to accept them as a part of you and address them with a calm mind.
It’s Okay to Accept Help!
Asking others to fill in for the caregiver’s role may feel overwhelming for some because they feel inadequate. They may also see it as being a burden on others. Here, it is important to understand that respite caregivers are happy to help and more than willing to take over your responsibilities so that you can take a breather. Going through difficult situations alone is almost always bad for your mental health, and it may also affect the quality of care you provide to your patient. Furthermore, opening up about your struggles not only opens the door for emotional support but also gives people a chance to come together and look for a solution.
Conclusion
Hospice respite care is not a luxury; it is a basic necessity that every hospice caregiver needs. Opening up and accepting your struggles as naturally arising in a difficult time helps avoid caregiver burnout.
Hospice respite care helps you devote much-needed time to self-care and to meeting other basic needs that may have gone unattended otherwise. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it requires strength and empathy.
Do you require hospice respite care for your loved one? Azalea Gardens provides Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Hospice Care for our numerous satisfied residents. Contact us to learn more about our care plans.
