Caregiving is not easy. It can be a difficult time for both the caregiver and the care receiver. Caregiving involves providing physical and emotional support to someone who is unable to fully support themselves due to illness, disability, or aging. The ongoing demands of caring for someone else take a toll on even the most resilient and patient of people. This is why it is critical caregivers take time to care for themselves and ask for help when needed.
Respite care provides a supervised and safe community for individuals with dementia or other health conditions that make it unsafe for them to be home alone safely. Programs typically are staffed with nurses or CNAs who can help during meal times, bathroom trips, and with daily medication while providing engaging activities for social and mental enrichment, like games, music, arts, and exercise. This allows caregivers to spend time focusing on their own self-care by resting or being with friends, working outside of the home, or doing typical errands that cannot be done while providing care.
JABA’s Director of Programs and Services, Emily Foreman, said, “Before beginning at the JABA Respite and Enrichment Center (JREC), caregivers may often feel worried and stressed, and wonder if this is the best next step. It is always so wonderful to observe caregivers experiencing outcomes such as decreased worry and stress and improved happiness and engagement individually and with the care recipient.”
The main benefit of a respite program is to delay or prevent an individual from having to move to a long-term residential care facility and continue to live and thrive in their own home and community. However, the benefits go far beyond aging in place. Evidence from a 2017 research study published in The Gerontologist found that participants often have a higher quality of life as respite centers provide needed health-related, social, psychological, and behavioral benefits, especially for individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia. Other benefits include a reduced risk of falls, greater social connection and companionship, and improved sleep quality due to the activities typically provided.
Caregivers can also benefit just as much, if not more, from respite programs. Caregivers can continue to stay in the workforce since their loved one will have a safe place to go during work hours. It also gives them an opportunity to tend to their own needs giving the energy and patience to care for their loved one at night. Additionally, a 2017 study by the School of Social Work at St. Catherine University found that respite programs have a positive impact on dementia caregivers’ mood, health, and relationships while reducing caregiver burnout and role overload.
“The benefits that the JREC program provides families are so important and special. It may range from a loved one participating in an activity and having so much fun after refusing for weeks, or a caregiver saying repeatedly how grateful they are for the program because they actually can keep their job, sleep better at night, or just enjoy a few hours to themselves. It is an invaluable program, and it is an honor to witness the gifts,” said Foreman.
It can be hard to determine when it might be time to think about a respite program for your loved one, but there are some general guidelines for who may be a good candidate. Respite care is ideal for an individual with a cognitive or physical impairment who cannot manage or structure daily activities on their own. Some questions that can help you determine if it is the right time to get help include, “Do they have difficulty planning their day?” “Do they feel lonely or isolated?” “Do they feel anxious when left alone?” Or, “Do they need attention that causes you to feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed?”
“There is a consistent theme of caregiver respite needed for most scenarios, but there are also needs such as increased socialization and level of engagement, and the desire for their loved one to create art, experience movement and exercise, and to receive care and service outside of what one may experience at home,” said Foreman.
Respite care should not feel like a step back for the care recipient or the caregiver. It is critical everyone involved feels like a door has opened to enhance respite for the caregiver, engaging activities, and increased joy for the recipient.
JABA offers the only two respite centers in all of Central Virginia, and it’s the most affordable in the state. The JREC is a respite and enrichment activity and wellness program for individuals 18 and older who are living with a mild cognitive impairment, an intellectual, or physical disability. These individuals require 24-hour care and must live with a care provider in order to remain home safely. JREC is open Monday through Friday to provide much-needed respite for caregivers and engaging activities, personalized health support, social connections, and nutrition for care recipients. Fee waivers may be available for those on Medicaid, and veterans may receive benefits and financial assistance through the VA for attendance. Other financial assistance may be available for qualifying individuals. For more information, call 434-817-5235 for Charlottesville or 540-500-5961 for Louisa or visit Respite & Enrichments Centers (REC) — JABA.
For caregivers, finding balance is essential. This is true not only for the well-being of a care recipient but also for the caregiver. Respite programs like JABA’s Respite and Enrichment Center provides compassionate, professional support that enhances quality of life for all involved. These programs aim to empower caregivers to maintain their health, relationships, livelihoods, and self-care while ensuring their loved ones receive care. Respite care is a proactive step toward keeping your loved one at home and in their community while nurturing joy, connection, and health. With these resources, caregivers can find reassurance and know that help is available for them and their loved ones.
Ty Mynes is a writer and Communications Specialist at JABA.