Respite Services: Relief
for the Adult Caregiver at Home
When a person is initially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, especially
in the early stage of the disease, the initial responsibilities of
the family member who is the primary caregiver may seem manageable
as far as time and tasks are concerned. Eventually, the progression
of the dementia makes the primary caregiver role an around-the-clock
responsibility. Soon the sole caregiver becomes exhausted with the
growing needs of their loved one.
Family caregivers with primary responsibility for the direct caregiving
of a person with Alzheimer's dementia are in need of respite care
services. Respite services provide a temporary relief for the family
caregiver from the duties associated with day-to-day care of the person
with dementia. It is known that for caregivers to truly benefit from
respite it must be planned and structured. Structured respite improves
the general wellness of the caregiver and the quality of the caregiving
relationship.
The Alzheimer's Support Network has been a pioneer in the delivery
of and financial assistance for structured respite care services for
families dealing with Alzheimer's disease. ASN has provided contracted
adult day health respite services since 1989. Respite services have
been offered in the past by arrangement with Elder Day Services of
Southern Worcester County Inc. of Dudley; and now known as Accord
Adult Day Center in Dudley. ASN member families may request an evaluation
to determine eligibility for adult day health services. If medically
authorized, member families can then receive financial assistance
towards two respite days per month.
Once eligibility has been approved, the start date for ASN supported
respite is the next calendar month. Scheduling for a respite day is
to be made with the Accord ADC staff.
Additional respite care options for ASN members include first-time
respite trial; support group respite; and home respite assistance.
A first-time respite trial provides the caregiver with an opportunity
to try respite care at no cost. Respite arrangements can be made for
either home or adult day health care respite. Support group respite
provides some financial assistance to cover the cost of attendant
care while the caregiver attends an ASN-sponsored support group meeting.
Home respite assistance provides an opportunity for cost sharing to
allow the primary caregiver to sustain the ongoing benefits of structured
respite care.
All respite assistance services are dependent upon the identification
of available and appropriate respite care staff, whether they are
private-pay providers or agency personnel.
ASN seeks to ensure that families are satisfied with respite services.
Member families involved with respite are asked for feedback when
client satisfaction surveys are conducted to evaluate program services.
Past survey results have generated positive feedback from families.
Some quotes from families who have used ASN's respite services include:
• "I was very happy to be able to have this respite time."
• "This service was a lifesaver. I wouldn't have been able to
have Dad here at all without it."
• "I could not ask for finer care for my husband. They are extremely
observant and caring."
• "How wonderful it was to take Dad someplace where the staff
were caring and competent."
• "Great service! It allows my husband and I time to just talk."
"We are so grateful for this program and the services."
• "Thank you for all you do!"
