How To Get Respite Care

Are you a caregiver seeking relief and rejuvenation? In this eye-opening video, we delve into the world of respite care and why it's a game-changer for dementia caregivers. Whether you're new to the term or looking for fresh perspectives, this video is for you!

Ready to take the plunge into a world of self-care? Check out the links in the description for additional resources, and don't forget to share your respite care experiences in the comments below.

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#respitecare #DementiaCaregiving #selfcare #CaregiverWellbeing
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It’s our mission to make dementia caregiving easier for families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, or any other type of dementia. We do so by making free educational training videos like this so that anyone with an internet connection can access this information.
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FREE Resource:

YouTube Playlists To Learn More:

Dealing with Challenging Behaviors:

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In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

00:00 Introduction
00:31 What is respite care?
01:27 Discover the various types of respite care and how they can be tailored to your needs
03:00 Uncover community resources and financial assistance options
03:47 Every dementia caregiver can benefit

[shellilayman]

My mom is in respite care right now for five days and I feel like I have just been released from the prison of Alzheimer’s. She has the disease but we are all suffering from the effects of it. Respite care has been a HUGE blessing for me in so many ways.

[vivianpolner]

Thank you Dr. Natalie. I am looking into options for me. My husband has vascular dementia and it has escalated. He requires more care from me. I am physically and mentally exhausted. I have a caregiver twice a week 4 hrs each day. I have come to the realization that I must look into more help. You have helped me tremendously and I’m grateful.

[cmjon]

This is so timely, I will leave my mom in respite care tomorrow because I’m having surgery. I have also scheduled respite care to go to visit my family abroad. I would have loved to take my mom but her dementia and her walking limitations will be to much for her and myself. I do have to say that I throughly checked a 4 respite care centers. I was horrified to read the reviews on Yelp and Google. My mom’s care manager suggested the fourth and it wasn’t bad. As I toured the facility I felt comfortable to leave my mom overnight, this is also a test to see if my 10 day vacation that I so desperately need will be ok. One other thing I wished you spoke about more is “the guilt” one has when they leave their loved one to take care of themself. I’m trying to deal with it. Thank you for your videos! A former Care participant of your program.

[sandrakleinpeter]

My husband was recently diagnosed with vascular dementia an I'm trying to wrap my head around this. He's just 59. I'm scared of the future. 🙏

[hazelatwood]

I’m new to this, and SO GRATEFUL to have found Dr Natalie’s tips! I was SO OVERWHELMED after only 1 week of caring for my paranoid elderly mom. Now I have a fresh new perspective thanks to Dr N - and so much of the pressure I was putting on myself has lifted.

Unlike many, my mom suffers from delusions and hallucinations - BUT - can still (barely) do most of her ADLs. And I NOW know that I am NOT RESPONSIBLE for curing her unique beliefs and just can spend time and assist with things that she allows (like doing grocery shopping & errands and doing her laundry and helping with cleaning). She also asks me to help her in the shower — so really, I see that I have it quite easy.

[julieburtch]

Thank you. My spouse is going to a week of respite for the fourth time this week. Each time has been difficult. He does not like going and usually sulks for a week in advance. I wouldn’t tell him but his ipad is linked to my phone and he can see calendar appts. I’d turn it off if I had time to figure that out. He also goes to a day away program 2 times a week for about 6 hours. No guilt here. He loves it. I can get stuff done, rest or have lunch with a friend. We have a psw who comes for 1 hour 2 times a week for personal care. As the workload gets heavier and I deal with my own health issues respite gives me opportunities to just breathe.

[evalynnchristiansen]

I took my husband to a group dementia day care facility. He refused to join in the activities and even tried to break a window to get out. We tried 2 days - after 2 hrs one day and 1-1/2 hr another day, they called me to pick him up and said they just could not handle him. He was their only failure so far. Somehow, I don't think an in-home caretaker would do what I had to do today. He pees on the bathroom floor and I have to clean that up at least 3-4 times a day. This morning, he defecated all over the bathroom and all over himself. I not only had to clean up everything .including him, but give him a shower. Showers are another of my main problems, because he is adamant he will not get into the shower. He will literally fight with me when I try to get him in (oh, yes, I've tried most of your suggestions about how to do this). He had also messed up the clean sheets I put on just last night. So, I had 3-4 additional loads of laundry today. I keep pads down on the bathroom floor, but this just went right through them and I had to throw one away because it couldn't be cleaned. In fact, the pads do not really work all that well and I have to clean the floors of 3 bathrooms 3-4 times a day. I don't believe there is any way I could force him to spend overnight in a facility to spend time there. He would fight them and he is truly powerful, especially in his arms. I'm truly stressed and get no help from anyone.

[loisfromohio]

I will have a person come in once a week and that will give me some much needed time to do shopping and appointments. Our family helps, alot but they all have jobs and families, I certainly don't want to burn them out either. When I read your blogs it helps, THANK YOU!

[cindypatrick]

My 87 yr old daddy has mixed dementia ( Alzheimer’s & vascular, due to 20+ yrs of TIA’s ( the most recent one last week) and an ischemic stroke in 2020).
Since he had the ischemic stroke his disorientation, paranoia, delusions and confusion has escalated.
My goal is to get him to the next stage where he “ won’t know what he doesn’t know.”
He’s pretty close to that point now.
He is losing not just short term memories but even most of his long term memories.
But he is acutely aware of something being wrong with his brain and he is very scared, especially at night.
But my husband and I have basically put our lives on hold for the 7 years daddy has lived on our property ( especially full time these last 4 years).
So yes we are so ready for some respite.
Daddy has long term insurance that allows me as his caregiver up to 21 days of respite.
So one day we will get a vacation 🙂 10:58

[kevinolesik]

such a great video !! ... we went thru this with my mom, 'respite' was so misunderstood ...

[LuLu-qhyo]

Yes I've missed so many appointments at Veteran hospital due to my mother cancer and dementia

[flowrchic]

I would really love to try some kind of respite care for my partner of 18 years. Unfortunately, like some other commenters here, I fear he may be too much to handle for anyone. He's only 52, moderate dementia but advancing quickly, type 1 diabetic, and extremely easily agitated. I would be terrified to have someone in the home because he's very territorial about our house, doesn't want anyone there who he doesn't know. And he will get violent or try to bolt if he feels threatened. I just know it would be a disastrous situation, but at the same time I feel like some socialization outside of just my company would be good for him. Although because he's so young compared to most with dementia, I don't know if he would connect with the people at an adult daycare. Boy, could I use a break though. His mother gives me four hours a week if I'm lucky, and his siblings are no help at all.

[joanb]

My mom has an aide from Home Instead come 9 hours per week. This person does cooking, light cleaning and laundry for Mom plus provides companionship for while I run errands and go for walks. I am getting more help this weekend so I can visit my son at college.

The main issue for me is being able to take a longer vacation. One time my brother came to stay in the house for a week. My other brother wont visit her.

[JeepGiGix]

I am trying to get respite now for my sister withDown syndrome and cognitive decline for the last 1 1/2. I haven’t had help since I started taken care of my sister in April of 2018, and it’s not easy getting it. Thank you for your videos.I follow you and have learned a lot, but I did not know about the aging Downs Community and Dementia, but stubbled upon it when our Mother was diagnosed with Dementia. ( she passed in 2021) If you could do a video on the links between Downs and Dementia, that would be great. Thanks for all you do.🙏🏻💜

[annawilson]

I'm a nurse looking to start a respite care service.

[leeannulrich]

Washing clothes was an excellent comparison. I'm at that breaking point with little support but worry how LO will react to a stranger coming in

[jeannemccloskey]

Thank you Dr. Natalie... my husband with Alzheimer's seems to be progressing quickly in these last months. He got cellulitis of the hand, which has healed, fortunately, but it seems to have kick-started 'sun-downing'. Not exactly sure, but he is so agitated at night, difficulties getting to sleep, gets up, gets back in bed, walks around, whimpers, etc. All of this makes my sleeping very hard and I am so tired. I want to contact the VA to start the process, but can't get them on the phone. Any better times to call?

[subversivevegan]

it's a shame that medicare only covers respite care when your LO is in hospice (which is the time in our journey when we get the *most* resources, not necessarily when we needed them most). To be blunt, the government is pretty useless; we're on our own.

[laundrygoddess]

My lo can still do his adls so we don't qualify for respite. I asked for it and was given a list of socially supported housing options... Right... Cause running two different households is so much more relaxing!

[popseeco]

I have been my fathers caregiver for 8 years, he has Alzheimer’s & Dementia, I’m getting burnout .. I’d like to find out how I can do respite care through the VA. I’m tired.