Respite care for caregivers...what advice do you have?

[CTyankee]

My friend/former teacher's husband fell, cracked some ribs, home now and she needs respite care. I gave her my limited advice since my husband went into a facility after spinal surgery. What she needs is to get a situation where she can have the burdens eased for her. She's tiny and he's a big guy. She's exhausted and needs to take care of herself.

Does anyone have some ideas I can offer her?

[Easterncedar]

1. I'm so sorry. I wish I did.

I went through it. Caregiving can break you.

[CTyankee]

3. I told her to call assisted living facilities in our city. Ask for respite care options.

At least that's a start.

[Hela]

2. Many resources available through Area Agencies on Aging

https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx

Every state/county/town has an Area Agency on Aging. Some do a better job than others, but your friends should be able to at least get referrals for some respite care, and possibly other services if they qualify.

They can enter their zip code at the top to find their local resource, or there's an 800# to call if they're having a problem finding the right information.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

4. I have been in search of this for myself

Is there a veteran involved? They have respite care.

www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/Home_and_Community_Based_Services.asp


I've not been able to find anything through our health care, but some plans do.

There's this:

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-respite-care

[SleeplessinSoCal]

5. I've also reached out to friends.

Some are willing to sit for a few hours.

[cyclonefence]

6. When he was discharged from the hospital,

did they offer any material about ongoing care at home? She might want to call the hospital and ask if they can offer anything. How old are they? I was surprised when I got home from my hospital stay to learn that my insurance plan offered meals and a visiting nurse. They had other services that I did not need. Maybe she should check with her insurance to see if they can help.

I am sure there are resources, somewhere; the problem is finding them.

[deRien]

7. Respite care is tricky

Some facilities only take respite care for a month; others for two weeks. It can also be expensive ~ it cost $4400 for two weeks for my husband to be in respite care and our daughter was available to do laundry etc.
Try the social workers at a local hospital ~ they may have resources. Does she need someone 24/7 or just a few hours a day?
I looked into at home services and they usually do 4 hours shifts. Also, I tried getting a nurse in to take care of my husband's medical care and that was $250 per hour. Not sure but maybe Social Security covers some of this?

[Laffy Kat]

8. When I was working for the Alzheimer's Association another lifetime ago..

We had a program that offered respite care. I don't think the patients necessarily had to have Alzheimer's. It's worth a shot.