Caring for someone who is injured, frail, or ill can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

In fact, caregivers can become become “burned out” when they don’t get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able. They may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Some symptoms of caregiver burnout include:

• withdrawal from family or friends
• changes in appetite or weight
• feeling hopeless or irritable
• increased use of alcohol or other substances
• decreased work performance
• negligence of responsibilities
• emotional and physical exhaustion

Respite care is short-term, temporary time off for family caregivers from someone who is injured, frail or ill, and it is one way to address caregiver burnout. It can be provided a variety of ways to ensure that the caregiver gets the time off they need, and the recipient of care gets the care and services they need.

Respite care can occur in the home as well as outside the home.

In its simplest form, respite care can be provided for someone by friends or volunteers staying with the care recipient in the home so the caregiver can leave the home and have some time off.

From my personal experience, this in one of the most valuable things you can do to support someone in a caregiver. A concrete offer to come relieve the caregiver at a specific time goes a long way to support them. When my mother was ill, one of her friends came every Monday and Wednesday afternoon so my dad could get out of the house and do the things he needed to do, even if he didn’t have specific plans.

Some faith communities as well as local aging resources may have programs that can provide volunteers to be a companion to someone, take care of meal preparation etc. to give the caregiver some time off.

Respite care can also occur in an Adult Day Care setting. These centers provide care and companionship for seniors who need assistance or supervision during the day so caregivers can go to work or handle personal business while knowing their relative is well cared for and safe. Adult daycares can provide socialization and recreation as well as therapeutic services in some situations.

Respite care outside the home can also be provided by some nursing homes as well as hospice facilities for a day, a weekend or while the caregiver is on vacation.

The cost of respite care varies with the services provided. While it is not usually covered by Medicare, some long-term care insurance policies will cover a portion and there are some federal and state programs available.