Caring for others is rewarding, but is can also be emotionally, mentally, and physically draining. Often, you focus all of your time and energy towards supporting the needs of your loved one, and don’t take the time to focus on your own self-care. This will eventually take its toll on your mental or physical wellbeing and so it is very important to remember to make time to care for yourself as well.
We all need time to rest and recharge. This is why it is so important to take a break every now and then. Respite care is temporary support – from a few hours, to a few weeks – that gives you a well-deserved break from your duties.
Respite care allows you to enjoy time with friends and family, go away on holiday, or simply spend some time relaxing, all while knowing that your loved one is being fully supported by a trained professional in your absence. Support from our home care in Bristol team can also be arranged at short notice if it is required urgently due to illness, hospital discharge or a family emergency.
Taking time to relax and recharge will benefit both you and the person you care for as it can improve your ability to provide support in the long run. Taking advantage of respite services is one way for you to take some time to look after your own needs.
We know that it can be a worry thinking about who would take your place should you have an unexpected illness or commitment. Respite care addresses these worries by allowing you, and the person you care for, to become comfortable with alternative forms of care. You will be able to have confidence in the knowledge that there are fully-trained and dedicated professionals ready to step in should you ever be unable to provide the care your loved one needs.
A respite carer will be able to assist your loved one in all the aspects of their daily life that you help with. While still taking your direction and following a support plan that is tailored to your loved one’s needs, they will ensure that continuity of care is always maintained.
If you need respite care for yourself following a spell in hospital, or an illness, your carer can support you for as little as one day, or up to four weeks whilst you are recovering. Similarly, if you would like some support whilst you go away on holiday, your carer can travel with you and provide essential support whilst you are away from home.
While paying attention to protecting their dignity and independence, a fully-trained carer will be able to carry out personal care tasks such as dressing, washing of intimate areas and applying creams or lotions.
If your loved one uses specialist equipment to mobilise, a respite carer can be on-hand to offer support and supervision to ensure they are always safe.
You may worry about your loved one having their time-specific medication while you are on a break. However, a professional carer will be trained in administering different levels and doses of medication and so will be able to fully support them in this area.
One of your main concerns when looking into the option of having a break may be leaving your loved one alone. Respite care is not only there to help with the physical aspects of their daily routine, but also means that your loved one will be able to regularly see someone and have that valuable company.
As a family-run company, we understand that handing over responsibility of your loved one’s care can be a real challenge, and you may feel nervous about the idea of another person taking over your role, even temporarily.
All of our live in carers in Bristol have been professionally trained to the highest standards through our Skills for Care endorsed training programme so you can rest assured that your loved one is in safe hands.
You can have peace of mind that we have Bristol-based carers available to support your loved one, whenever you require a break, or in the event of an unforeseen emergency. Being regulated by the Care Quality Commission means that you can have full confidence in our carers’ ability to provide the high-quality care and support that you loved one deserves no matter how long for.
Give our friendly team a call today on 01173149256 so that we can help you plan a well-deserved break and some time for yourself. We also offer live in care in Bristol.