50+ Lifestyles

What Exactly Is Respite Care?

By Cyndi Koenes
Regional Marketing & Sales Director
Park Vista – North Hill
Park Vista – Camanche

Have you heard the term respite care and wondered what it meant and if it would ever be something you or a loved one might need? Respite care is a service you can use if you are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery and may need a little more recovery time after a hospitalization or stay in a rehab center. This option can be especially helpful for people that live alone or have a spouse that is unable to provide the extra care that is temporarily needed. Spending an extra 1 to 4 weeks in a community that offers respite care can really make a difference in the speed and success of recovery. The ultimate goal of respite care is to get you back home healthier, stronger and happy with your recovery. Respite care can also be used if family members who are primary caregivers need some help in temporarily caring for their loved one. For instance, if they are traveling, have a special event to attend or may have a change of health status themselves.

Services included in respite care depend on the facility you choose but generally include a furnished room in a facility offering differing levels of medical care, nursing oversight/assistance, meals and medication assistance and or administration, 24 hour a day staff and a personal alarm system. Physical Therapy can also be provided through outside agencies. Most facilities also offer activities and faith-based services should the resident feel up to participating. A nursing assessment or medical review is done before a person comes into a facility to make sure it’s the right fit and needs can be met.

A short respite stay in an assisted living facility can also give a potential resident and their family members the chance to “check out” the facility and the kind of lifestyle it offers, especially if they or their family are considering a move.

Most long-term nursing care facilities also offer respite care for those needing a higher level of medical care on a temporary basis. Respite is generally a private pay service and rates are based on the facility chosen and level of care needed.

Park Vista currently has availability in our memory care and assisted living respite rooms (one of our units is pictured with this article).

Park Vista North Hill provides round-the-clock nursing and bilingual staff on our beautiful 14-acre property.

If you have any questions or would like to tour a Park Vista respite room in either the Camanche or North Hill communities, please reach out at www.parkvistaliving.org.

Cyndi Koenes is Regional Marketing & Sales Director at Park Vista Retirement Living in East Moline, Illinois and Camanche, Iowa. For more information, please go to www.parkvistaliving.org or contact Cyndi Koenes at 309-236-0875 or by email at Cyndi.Koenes@parkvistaliving.org.