Finding Short Term Respite: Simple Ways To Recharge During Busy Days

Many caregivers experience anxiety or guilt when considering or using respite care. They may feel they “should” be doing everything alone or that asking for help will burden others. They may also worry about the quality of care being provided to their care recipient. 

Finding ways to rest and recharge is essential for caregivers’ health and well-being. Managing caregiving responsibilities and juggling other demands of life and work can be a source of stress for anyone. If left unaddressed, this stress can quickly turn into caregiver burnout, a state of extreme emotional, mental, or physical exhaustion.

Taking regular breaks helps reduce caregiver stress. They support them in feeling better, rested, and ready to provide quality care. This not only benefits caregivers but also their care recipients! At Trualta, we know that addressing and managing caregiver burnout is essential. Check if you have free access to our support resources and educational tools for support with:

• Identifying and managing caregiver burnout
• Taking action to prevent caregiver burnout
• Asking for, accepting, and finding caregiving support
• Accessing support resources for yourself and your care recipient 

What Is Short Term Respite? 

Respite is when another caregiver steps in to provide short term care for your care recipient. This allows the primary caregiver to get temporary relief from caregiving. Accessing respite care regularly can help prevent you from feeling:

• Isolated
• Exhausted
• Guilty
• Burned out

While respite can last as long as a few days or weeks, short term respite might last a few hours. Getting a short break from caregiving can allow you to:

• Engage in personal care or activities of daily living
• Manage household tasks
• Socialize with others
• Rest
• Engage in self-care activities
• Go to work

Let’s dive into some ideas for how to rest and recharge with respite care!

4 Ways To Recharge With Short Term Respite Care

Whether your care recipient receives a respite care service in your home or an adult day care center, it’s important to consider how you’ll spend your time. Will you use the short term relief for daily activities or personal care needs? Will you spend it on rest or relaxation?

Start by thinking about your needs, wants, and goals. One person’s restful or recharging activity might look different from the next. Avoid comparing yourself to other caregivers; instead, use them for inspiration! Here are some ideas for making the most of respite care services. 

1. Take Care Of Your Needs

Addressing self-care is a common challenge for caregivers. This might not mean a luxurious spa experience; for some, it might mean having peace and quiet for a 10-minute shower without worrying about their care recipient. Here are some ideas for addressing your personal needs:

• Shower, shave, or put on makeup
• Go to the hairdresser, barbershop, or esthetician
• Exercise or other physical activity
• Take a nap
• Go for a walk or listen to music

2. Be Social With Others

As an unpaid caregiver, dedicating time to friendships and family relationships is hard. Many caregivers struggle with isolation. It’s okay if a lot of time has passed since you last spent time with one another. A true friend or loved one will appreciate the opportunity to reconnect. You can:

• Offer to go out for a coffee, dinner, or dessert
• Talk on the phone or video call 
• See a movie together 
• Go shopping at the mall
• Play a card or board game
• Take a walk around a park or neighborhood 

3. Engage In A Leisure Activity Or Hobby

Leisure activities can help you rest and recharge. You can:

• Watch a TV show or read a book 
• Meet with a club or special interest group 
• Watch a how-to video on the internet
• Take up a new hobby or continue with an existing one
• Shop for hobby supplies

4. Address Household & Productivity Needs

Respite can also be used to get certain tasks done. If you choose to use respite for productivity from time to time, ensure that you’re also making a conscious effort to enjoy yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything big or time-consuming, but it should allow you to care for yourself. For example:

• Listen to a favorite podcast or music playlist while grocery shopping 
• Sit in a coffee shop before picking up medications at the pharmacy 
• Go out for lunch with a friend after a medical appointment
• Reward yourself with an episode of your favorite TV show after you clean the kitchen

Preparing For Respite Care

Now that we’ve covered why respite is essential for caregivers, let’s explore how you can make the most of it. Here are some actions you can take to make respite as effective as possible:

• Use respite before you “need” it. Many caregivers wait until they’re stressed, overwhelmed, or burned out before accessing respite. Think of respite like wearing sunscreen: it’s most effective if you use it before going out into the sun–not after you’ve already burned! As a preventative measure, use respite as early in your caregiving journey as possible to access the full benefits of caregiver relief.
• Use respite regularly. Only using respite once in a while can reduce its effectiveness. It’s important to be able to look forward to scheduled breaks. Aim to use respite care at least once per week or more to reap the full benefits.
• Plan your respite activities ahead of time. Without effective planning, letting time get away from us is easy. While this is okay occasionally, it’s important to plan for how you’ll truly benefit and recharge from the short break. For example, doing a hobby, napping, or calling a friend. If your plans involve others, confirm plans ahead of time to make the best use of your break from caregiving.
• Use it with other kinds of support. Respite is very important, but it shouldn’t be the only way you access caregiving assistance. Getting emotional support from others, accessing education, and staying social are important strategies for managing the demands of caregiving. 

Don’t forget to check if you have free access to Trualta to learn more about ways to make your caregiving journey easier. 

References

1. https://bluemoonseniorcounseling.com/coping-with-caregiver-stress-and-burnout/ 
2. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/what-respite-care 
3. https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/9-Steps_Dementia-Caregiver-2.pdf 
4. https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Lund_TLCRespiteBrochure_2014.pdf
5. https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/9-Steps_Dementia-Caregiver-2.pdf