Preparing Your Parent for Time with a Respite Care Provider

By Marlene Diaz | June 29, 2016 |

Home Care Services Puyallup WA

No matter how devoted you are to your parent or to your role as their caregiver, there are likely going to be times in your care journey with them that you are not able to keep up with the routine that you have established. Your child may have an event or activity that you need to attend, you may need a treatment or procedure that will require recovery time, or you may plan a vacation or getaway that your aging parent cannot attend with you. When this happens, you may worry that if you go through with your plans your parent may not get the home care service and assistance that they need in order to stay safe, healthy, and comfortable. This should not mean that you second-guess your plans or do not do the things that you need or want to do in order to continue caring for your parent. Instead, hiring a respite care provider enables you to take a break from your home care relationship while still knowing that they are properly cared for while you are away.

The services of a respite care provider are fully customizable to your parent’s specific needs. This ensures that their routine will stay as consistent as possible. Taking some time to prepare your parent ahead of time can help your parent to feel less stressed and get through the respite time as comfortably as possible.

Use these tips to help you prepare your parent for a time with a respite care provider:

Talk about it as early as possible. Though there are some situations when it is not possible to plan far in advance for the need of a respite care provider, it is important to talk about the situation as early as you can. Sit down with them and explain why you need the respite care provider and what they will be doing with the care provider. This will give them a chance to get accustomed to the idea.
Let them express themselves. While discussing the situation with your elderly parent, make sure that you take the time to listen to what they have to say about it. Allow them to express their emotions and any concerns that they have so that you can address them as well as you can. This will help them to feel more comfortable and like you still care about their needs.
Come up with a plan together. Sit down with your parent and have them tell you the elements of care that are most important to them. Create a care plan together so that they can feel confident their specific needs will be managed in the way that is right for them. This can include coming up with activities that they would like to do or even writing out their schedule for each day so that they can follow it independently.
Make kits. Take some time before you leave to create care kits for your elderly parent. This can include making and freezing meals so that they can simply heat them up when they want a familiar meal, or activities and crafts so that they can stay entertained and keep their mind active. Label each kit and include clear instructions so that they can use it properly.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Puyallup WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.