You can usually use your long-term care insurance policy to pay for respite care. However, this varies by policy, so it's best to call your insurance company and check. Before you start the conversation, it's important to do some research on the respite care services available near you. This way, you can be prepared to discuss different options with your loved one.
Knowing the details shows that you care about their needs and want the best for them. The national average cost of respite care, according to a Genworth survey on the cost of care, can help you understand what to expect. If you ask the right questions, you may be able to get them to accept respite care faster than you thought. If the conversation starts to go in the wrong direction, you can begin to direct it to the many benefits that respite care at home can offer.
The process of convincing them to accept temporary care must be done by recognizing their feelings, giving them constant reassurance and, in general, respecting them. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for financial assistance to help cover the costs of respite care. Most home care professionals are trained to help your elderly loved one with basic activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating, bathing, and going to the bathroom. Respite care provides you with temporary relief from your care tasks when you need extra rest or support.
That's why planning for respite care is essential for both older people and their primary caregiver. Despite the cost of respite care, it's important for primary caregivers to realize that this temporary interruption in care delivery may be priceless. Temporary care at home can help keep caregiver fatigue and exhaustion at bay, and there are other arrangements outside the home as well. Respective care at home usually covers a variety of non-medical services for your loved one, while providing the rest you need.
If you decide that your older loved one will age in a home under the care of a loved one, whether for financial or emotional reasons, it's not realistic to assume that the family member who cares for him will always be able to provide him with the constant care he needs. Sometimes, foster care involves temporarily transferring responsibilities to an informal caregiver, such as a family member or friend. If you can't find the right assistant or if your state doesn't allow for the administration of necessary medications, respite care in a nursing home may be a better option. You'll want to have a clear conversation about the plan to return home after the end of temporary care.
