Becoming a carer for a loved one can be an experience of complex emotion and often a source of great pride. Being able to offer comfort and joy to someone you are close to, and be fully responsible for their care can be something that many struggle to relinquish. But everyone needs a break at times and it can be unbelievably beneficial to both carer and cared for to accept this next chapter and, with it, some respite placements as support. Respite means a stay in a care facility on a temporary basis. When looking at our Leicestershire, Leicester and Nuneaton area, we know that there are many respite facilities that would provide you with the assurance and support that you need. Here we will be discussing what respite is and the important stages that you should go through when choosing what is right for you.
What is Respite Care?
The clue is really in the name, respite is a bite size moment of rest from the every day stresses of care. This respite can take many forms, from time in a residential facility, day care centre or nursing home. It can also vary on length, whatever it needed. For a few hours, days or even weeks. Whatever you need, you can find the care to suit you.
Choosing Respite Care
Understanding Your Requirements
The first thing to do when choosing a respite care service is to spend some time considering your requirements. What demands do you and your loved one have and what are you looking for?
What duration would suit you? Think about what length of time would be beneficial and affordable. Also consider if you would want this care to be a regular occurrence or some one-off help. Do you need assistance whilst you are away or consistent and long-standing support? You should also consider types of care that are around, what is it that your loved one needs assistance with and where might they be comfortable? Also, consider location. Leicester, Leicestershire, or Nuneaton, what is accessible and appropriate?
Looking Into Respite Care Providers
Once you have spent some time thinking about your requirements, it is time to research and better understand what facilities would suit you. You can start by asking for recommendations what friends and family. Finding out who they have experience with and what their feedback was. You could also go to medical experts and hear what they recommend from their perspective. Search online as well and use care directory to explore your options. Carehome.co.uk is a good place to look, we may also suggest our website! It is recommended that you speak with several providers and keep your options open. It can never hurt to be too thorough.
Consider the Quality of the Care
When you have gathered your prospective providers, you must then look a little more in depth to gain understanding of the true quality of care. How are the staff trained and what credentials do they have? Ensure that they have experience and in the case of complex medical needs, ensure that these can be met. Are the care plans personalised? Seek out providers who create plans specifically with their residents in mind. This person-centred care is the best way to ensure all needs are being met in an effective manner.
The environment and facilities will also tell you a lot and it is important to consider what aspects of a home are important. Are all procedures in place and is it a clean and happy place to be? You should also consider cost, what is in your price range and what can you maintain? Make sure that you understand all that is included and request a breakdown of expenses to understand this further. Lastly consider communication, small things like how they contact you can tell you a lot.
Schedule a Trail
The last stage in the process of selecting a respite care provider is to organise a trail visit so that you can experience the lived experience of care in that facility. Have a one-off session before you commit to a longer period to evaluate how it fits you. This means you can uncover any problems that may arise and make any adjustments before getting settled.
Conclusion
Respite care can be a very useful tool and provide flexible and professional rest periods for those in need. Whether you are in Leicestershire, Leicester or Nuneaton, there are a number of options to choose from. Following these suggestions laid out in this blog, you will be best equipped to embrace this support in the most effective way.