The holiday season is an opportunity for families, friends, and loved ones to spend time together. This time of year creates priceless memories to be cherished for years to come. However, the holiday season can also bring stress and never-ending to-do lists.

Trying to plan multiple gatherings with different groups of people, getting all of your holiday shopping done, hosting family members from out of town, and/or attending various events can be a lot for anyone to handle. For individuals who are also family caregivers, this can add an additional layer of stress. Luckily, respite care is an option and an extremely beneficial resource for family caregivers during the holiday season.

Community Senior Life has senior living communities throughout Alabama that offer these services. We want to share how respite care can help you get through the holidaysm as well as how it can be used to benefit you and your loved one throughout the year!

Understanding Respite Care

Respite care is a “short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or several days or weeks (National Institute on Aging).”

Typically offered through a senior living community or professional care provider, respite care is designed to give family caregivers a break from their caregiving responsibilities, whether they need to run errands, practice self-care and avoid burnout, or handle other responsibilities.

At Community Senior Life, we recommend utilizing respite care services for at least a few days. This allows your loved one to become a genuine part of our community. When using our respite care services, your loved one will reside within one of our communities and have the opportunity to fully experience what life is like at a Community Senior Life community.

Using Respite Care Over the Holidays

Help Reduce Holiday Stress

While the holidays are meant to bring families closer together, it is not always the picture-perfect season we see in the movies. Instead, it can be a major source of stress for many individuals.

Utilizing respite care services can help minimize your holiday stress by giving you time back to handle additional tasks that the season may bring. You can focus solely on getting ready for the holidays (decorating your home, finishing your shopping, preparing for guests, etc.) with the peace of mind knowing that your loved one is well taken care of and safe.

Reconnect with Other Family Members

It is common for family members to travel in from out of town during the holiday season, and you have likely not seen some of these family members since last year’s festivities. If you want to reconnect and spend quality one-on-one time with these family members but are worried about leaving your loved one alone, respite care could be the solution.

By using respite care, you are able to enjoy time with other family members without having to worry about your loved one being left alone.

Recharge and Protect Your Immune System

When you take time out of your busy schedule for yourself, you give your mind and body a chance to reset and refresh. This allows you to be fully present when you return to your responsibilities.

However, the combination of the change in weather and seeing multiple family members and friends can wreak havoc on your immune system. Additionally, the constant go, go, go of the season can wear you down, so it is important to allow your body to recharge. If you get a cold, you are not as well-equipped to be the best caregiver or the best holiday host you can be.

Respite care enables you to take this essential time out for yourself. Doing so allows you to care for your own needs, protect yourself from getting sick, and maintain your healthy routine.

Respite Care Throughout the Year

While respite care offers family caregivers relief during the holiday season, you can use it any time of the year.

Benefits for caregivers include:

  • Preventing caregiver burnout
  • Gaining a new perspective on providing care
  • Taking time off for a vacation or emergency
  • Allowing you to handle other responsibilities

Benefits for your loved one include:

  • Forming new relationships
  • Getting mental stimulation
  • Reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation
  • Serving as a trial for assisted living

Respite care is a great resource to utilize any time of year, but it can be especially beneficial throughout the holiday season. If you want to learn more about our senior living communities in Alabama and respite care services, we invite you to visit our website or contact Community Senior Life at 251-981-0200.