Most of the family caregivers we meet have been at it for years before they call, and most of them feel that calling means they have failed. They have not. They are tired, and tiredness is not a character flaw.
What respite looks like
- An afternoon a week, same day, same caregiver, so you can leave the house without watching the clock.
- A weekend a month.
- A fortnight, so you can go somewhere, with overnight or live-in care while you are away.
What it does
Carers who get regular breaks tend to keep going longer, get ill less, and, honestly, be kinder to the person they are caring for. Your mother benefits from you having a life. That is not a slogan; it is what we see.
Paying for it
Alberta’s Special Needs Assistance for Seniors can cover respite for lower-income seniors, but only as a stay in a care centre, not respite delivered at home. Funded home care hours may be used for in-home respite after an assessment. Ask us to do the arithmetic before you assume it is out of reach.
