Respite care is defined as the transfer of primary caregiving responsibilities to another person, typically a professional caregiver, relative or friend, in order for primary caregivers to receive temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. Respite care takes many forms some family caregivers choose to have someone take on caregiver duties for a few hours a week or a few hours a day. Or, some schedule respite care for longer periods of time to accommodate an extended break or vacation.  What You Need to Know When Caring for a Senior Loved One In its Caregiving in the U.S. report, AARP estimates that 39.8 million family members provided unpaid care to an adult in 2014 and 2015. And, the Centers for Disease Control reports that over half (53%) of caregivers indicated that a decline in their health compromises their ability to provide care. Caring for a senior loved one is both rewarding and challenging. Family caregivers need to remember that its important to take necessary breaks and practice self-care so they can ensure that they continue to find joy in their role.This can be particularly important for those caring for a senior that has a severe illness. A study led by the Stanford Center on Longevity and Stanford University Psychology Department, which was conducted with assistance from Comfort Keepers and Clear Care, found that for older family caregivers:          Caring for a loved one with a mild illness generally leaves them in the same emotional state as their peers with emotional well-being generally greater than that of younger adults.         When responsible for a loved one with a severe illness, reported emotional well-being tended to be lower than those of their peers.         The cause of a decrease in emotional well-being is attributed to caregivers inability to pursue their social goals and friendships. The purpose of this study was to help identify the unique challenges and stressors that family caregivers face. As a partner in this research study, we reached out to the family members and decision-makers of approximately 2,000 Comfort Keepers clients.  These results suggest that older people have higher emotional well-being than younger people but not when they have a relative with a severe illness. Not all older people with ailing relatives have low well-being; rather, it depends on the severity of the relative's ailment.  Caring for a senior loved one can be fulfilling and can strengthen bonds within a family. But its important to recognize that being a family caregiver can come with feelings of loss, stress and physical strain. Caregivers risk their own health and wellbeing when they dont account for their own needs or take a break when necessary, and respite care provides a convenient solution for many families.   Comfort Keepers Can Help Trusting your loved one with someone else can be difficult, but with Comfort Keepers, you can trust that he or she will be in capable hands. Our specially trained caregivers will stay with your loved one while you take care of yourself, for as much or as little time as you need. And, every client receives a custom care plan that aims to engage them in intellectual, physical and emotional exercises and activities. To learn more about our uplifting in-home and respite services, contact your nearest Comfort Keepers office today. ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Caregiving for Family and Friends A Public Health Issue. Web. 2019.AARP. Caregiving in the U.S., 2015 Report. Web. 2015.Family Caregiver Alliance. Policy and Advocacy. Web.Alzheimers Association. Alzheimers and Dementia Caregiver Center: Respite Care. Web. 2017 Stanford Center on Longevity. Age and Emotional Well-Being: The Varied Emotional Experience of Family Caregivers by Sarah Raposo, Jessica Barnes, Tamara Sims, Amy Yotopoulos, Lara Carstensen, Mary Bowman, Jacquelyn Kung. Web. 2017. Read more about the study here. https://www.comfortkeepers.com/family-caregiver-study

When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it can be a difficult and emotional time for both the patient and their family. Hospice care provides a specialized form of medical care that focuses on the comfort and quality of life for patients who have a limited life expectancy. Hospice care not only benefits the patient, but it also provides support and assistance for their caregivers. In this article, we will explore the benefits of hospice care for both patients and caregivers.For Patients:Pain and Symptom Management: Hospice care specializes in providing comfort care, which means that the medical team focuses on managing pain and symptoms associated with the illness. This can include providing medication and other therapies to alleviate discomfort.Emotional Support: Hospice care teams include trained professionals who offer emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. These professionals can provide counseling, emotional support, and assistance with coping strategies to help patients and their families manage their emotions during this difficult time.Dignity and Respect: Hospice care is designed to provide compassionate care that is focused on the patients dignity and respect. Patients are treated as individuals with unique needs, preferences, and beliefs. The goal of hospice care is to ensure that patients are comfortable and treated with respect throughout the entire end-of-life process.Personalized Care: Hospice care is tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient. This means that care is provided based on the patients unique medical condition, personal preferences, and goals. The hospice care team works with patients and their families to develop a care plan that is customized to their needs.Support for Family Members: Hospice care offers support for family members who are caring for their loved ones. This can include counseling, respite care, and assistance with end-of-life planning.For Caregivers:Respite Care: Hospice care provides respite care for caregivers, which means that a trained professional takes over caregiving responsibilities for a short period of time so that the caregiver can take a break. This can be particularly helpful for family members who are caring for a loved one 24/7.Emotional Support: Hospice care teams offer emotional support to caregivers as well. Caregivers often experience stress, anxiety, and depression as they care for their loved ones. Hospice care professionals can provide counseling and other resources to help caregivers manage their emotions.Education and Training: Hospice care teams can provide education and training to caregivers so that they are better equipped to care for their loved ones. This can include training on medication management, pain management, and other aspects of end-of-life care.Support for End-of-Life Planning: Hospice care teams can help caregivers with end-of-life planning, which can include assistance with advance directives, funeral planning, and other important decisions that need to be made.Continued Support: Hospice care teams provide continued support to caregivers even after their loved one has passed away. This can include grief counseling and other resources to help caregivers cope with the loss of their loved one.Hospice care provides specialized medical care that focuses on the comfort and quality of life for patients who have a limited life expectancy. Hospice care not only benefits the patient, but it also provides support and assistance for their caregivers. Hospice care offers a range of benefits, including pain and symptom management, emotional support, dignity and respect, personalized care, respite care, education and training, support for end-of-life planning, and continued support for caregivers after their loved one has passed away. If you or a loved one are facing a terminal illness, it is important to consider the benefits of hospice care and to discuss this option with your healthcare provider. For more information about hospice care services please contact our caring team today.

Unfortunately, its likely to happen to each of us when we least expect it: we hear the news that a friend or family member has lost a loved one through an unexpected or expected death. We may have an immediate feeling of doubt about how we should respond. What do we say? What do we do? What if we say or do the wrong thing?These are important questions because what we say or do can either relieve emotional pain or make it worse.Yet, by understanding a few important things about grieving and mourning we can be confident that we can help and not hurt.Understand the Many Faces of Emotional ShockEven when a death is expectedlike after a long, serious illnessyour friend is probably experiencing a roller coaster of strong emotions. According to the American Cancer Society, the shock of losing a loved one can manifest itself anywhere from disbelief, anger, uncertainty, denial or numbness. In my own experience, Ive seen people whose numbness is misinterpreted as peace or acceptance, leading others to say, Shes so strong or Hes taking this so wellyet when the funeral is over and everyone has gone home, they fall apart.Remember that your friend is likely to feel many emotional ups and downsand a period of strength might be followed by real anguish.Communicate Your Sorrow SimplyIm so sorry for your loss, or I wish I knew what to sayplease know that I care, are simple and comforting ways to let your friend know that you care. When we stray into clichslike Shes in a better place now, or It was his time to go,the person who is grieving may feel wounded because they simply want their loved one at their side. This can be especially true of parents who have lost children.If youre completely unsure of what to say, being nearbyyet silentalso communicates that you care.Show Your Support through ServiceYou can decrease your own feelings of helplessness or powerlessness by serving your grieving friend. However, during the strongest moments of grief your friend may not be able to tell you what he or she needs. If thats the case, you might consider doing anything that may be helpfullike mowing their lawn, doing their dishes, or helping them with the funeral. But remember that your service shouldnt end with the funeral.Thoughtful service will continue to show your concern.Listening May Be the Most Helpful Thing You Can DoYour friend may need to talk often. He or she may have to discuss the details of their loved ones deathand may need to talk about it repeatedly. This can be part of the grieving process and you can help by being a patient, non-judgmental, listening ear.But take your cues from your friend because talking about their loved one might be painful. One friend recently told me, One of the most difficult things for us was when someone wouldcasually [mention our childs name]. To us, mentioning his name was a reverent thing that we didnt do very often except among each other. Even then, we were careful about it. It felt very jarring when others were too casual about it.Dont Rush the Grieving ProcessExperts in the field of emotional health and grieving concur that the processand timeframeof grieving is different for everyone. As a friend, you need to be ready for the long haul. It may literally take years for a grieving person to feel stable with their emotions. Encouraging them to get outside and take part in social activities may be helpful, but shouldnt be forced. Give your friend time to adjust to their feelings and emotions and dont be surprised if their grieving lasts much longer than you expect.Dont be Offended if Your Friend Shows AngerAnger can be a normal emotion during the grieving process. Grief can heighten negative emotions and a normally kind person who is grieving may strike out at others emotionally. Understand that its a product of their grief and dont take it personally. You can support them best by maintaining a level head and forgiving them when theyre not at their best.Grief and Mourning Shouldnt be Interpreted as a Lack of Religious FaithAbout half the people in the world believe in an afterlifeand that belief is typically tied to religious views. While those who are grieving may find comfort in their belief that their loved one lives on in some other realm, that belief may not override the pain of separation. Often, grieving is about being separated from our loved onesregardless of our beliefs.Id love to hear your thoughts on this subject, so please leave a comment in the comments box. I also invite you to subscribe to this blogwhich will cover a variety of healthcare topics.A short post cant cover everything, so if youd like more information on this topic I encourage you to research the Five Stages of Grief by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Also, see the U.S. Governments excellent A LifeCare Guide to Helping Others Cope with Grief. If youre concerned that your friends grief has developed into thoughts of hurting themselves or others, please contact a mental health professional.This post is dedicated to the memory of Bailey Rae Bullock, Matthew Bullock, Dan Bishop, Joe Adams, Michelle Pereira, and the many others who's passing profoundly affected me.