Before coming to Atria Cinco Ranch for a respite stay, Bettye was living alone, still driving and fully independent. Unfortunately, a fall left her needing extra assistance. After two months in assisted living, attending regular physical therapy – and the occasional happy hour – Bettye was strong enough to return to her previous, independent lifestyle.
Mindy Boysaw, a Community Sales Director at Atria Cinco Ranch, says that’s exactly what respite care should do – provide the support and oversight necessary for a full recovery and return to independence.
Read on to learn how short-term respite stays benefit older adults and caregivers alike.
What is respite care?
Respite care is short-term senior care designed to help older adults recover after an illness, injury or surgery.
Families may seek out either in-home respite care or a short-term residential stay in an assisted living community. Residential respite care for seniors includes assistance from a trained, 24-hour staff that takes care of everything from preparing meals to managing medications. Some communities also offer on-site physical and occupational therapy, making it easier to stay on top of doctor’s orders that help prevent hospital readmission in elderly patients.
Senior respite stays also offer caregivers a break from the 24/7 demands of their role, so they can rest or catch up on other obligations.
If your family isn’t looking for medical assistance, a short-term stay in senior living also helps older adults:
- Try a community out before selling a long-time home
- Experience life in a new city, if they’re considering a move closer to family
- Enjoy peace of mind while family members or caregivers are traveling
Even Bettye – who came to Atria Cinco Ranch to heal after her fall – enjoyed the experience so much she decided to move in full-time.
Benefits of short-term community living
Whether guests have planned a short-term stay for recovery or just to try a community on for size, they’ll enjoy all the benefits of community life, such as:
- Meeting new neighbors and friends
- Freedom from cooking, cleaning and other household tasks
- Transportation to appointments
- A calendar of events and outings
Boysaw notes that one of the biggest benefits of a short-term respite stay is that it reminds people that “staying active and enjoying the company of others is the best lifestyle.”
A respite stay also has benefits for caregivers. Many adult children find that when they’re no longer providing full-time care, they’re able to spend more meaningful time with their parent – enjoying a meal and sharing stories rather than managing tasks.
Questions to ask a community
As you explore your local respite care services, asking these questions will help you find the right fit:
- What type of respite care services does the community offer?
- What type of training does their staff receive?
- How much does short-term assisted living cost?
- How does the community handle and mitigate medical emergencies?
- Is there a limit to how many hours of respite care a guest is allowed?
- What accommodations and amenities are available in the community?
As Boysaw notes, all of these questions serve one purpose: to help you find care that will support a full recovery.
Short-term stays at Atria
Respite stays provide an excellent way for older adults to get a feel for a community and receive the support they need to recuperate – while offering caregivers a respite of their own.
At Atria, we’ve helped countless older adults like Bettye recover after a hospital stay. Find supportive respite care near you at one of our communities across the United States.
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