How Respite Care Can Be Used to Test Drive Assisted Living

Moving your parents or loved one to assisted living is a decision that requires a lot of thought and research. There are so many different aspects of an assisted living community to consider that without visiting communities, there’s no real way to know if it meets all your requirements, or if you, your parents or loved one will even like it. One of the ways to get a better picture of what assisted living is like in a given community is to take advantage of their respite care program. A short respite stay will give you and your loved ones an idea as to what the community is like, what services they offer, and if it’s the right choice for them.

What is Respite Care?

When senior caregivers start to experience caregiver burnout, respite care is a safe option they can turn to that provides quality care and gives caregivers a break. Respite care is short-term substitute care that provides temporary relief, or respite, for caregivers. Brief breaks are essential for caregivers to be able to continue providing quality care while juggling life’s many responsibilities. A typical respite stay lasts between a few days to two weeks, though longer-term stays lasting several weeks are available.