Gayle craves just a few hours a month apart from her caregiving to get together with friends, but her mom is a fall risk every time she gets up.

Ken’s wife had a stroke leaving her partially paralyzed and she gets very upset if he leaves the house, even just to get groceries.

Bev’s dad has dementia, is frequently confused and a risk for wandering away from their home. He’s frequently awake all night and she’s exhausted.

What is Respite Care?

It’s the term for having another caregiver providing a loved one’s care so that the regular caregiver(s) can have some time off from caregiving responsibilities. Nearly 42 million adults are caring for older adults in the U.S. per the AARP. Most approach caring for loved ones as a labor of love. But juggling caregiving duties with job responsibilities and personal life can lead to exhaustion, overwhelm and feeling isolated.

Respite Caregivers can help with a variety of tasks, such as medication reminders, meal preparation, personal care (e.g., bathing, toileting) light housekeeping, and providing occasional transportation.

Many of our clients, like Ken, Bev, and Gayle above, are family caregivers getting the breaks they need by having Sunlight Respite Caregivers. While the situations are unique, the benefits of having a Respite Caregiver are common.

Mental Health

“Even though I arranged rides, I had to miss my daughter’s ice skating lessons,” Evelyn said, continuing, “And she ended up quitting skating. It’s my fault.” Guilt, especially related to balancing time with their own families and caregiving is common among Family Caregivers. Respite care for Evelyn helped bring balance back into her life.

Similarly, Loretta experienced guilt over yelling at her kids. The stress of her dad’s increasing care needs was wearing on her. Remorsefully, she said “I have no margin in my life.” Having a Respite Caregiver provided Erin the opportunity to “refill her tank” emotionally.

Gayle had come to peace with quitting her job to be her mother’s caregiver, though the hit to her income and her own retirement savings brought on financial anxiety. Still, it was the loss of socialization that impacted her the most. For Gayle, Respite Care was “life-giving” – a lifeline to keep her relationships intact.

Physical Health

Bev was utterly run-down from the demands of caring for her father. One night she awoke to the dog barking and found her dad wandering at the end of the block after midnight. Since then, restorative sleep had eluded her. For this family, an overnight Respite Caregiver meant Bev could get the sleep she needed to care for her family and her father.

Sue’s husband has Parkinson’s disease and she faced her own health challenges. Feeling the weight of his care needs and knowing she couldn’t afford to get sick, she stepped away from her Silver Sneakers exercise group. But she actually got sick more frequently, likely due to the effects of the mounting stress on her body. For Sue, Respite Care meant a return to her yoga class and her own health improved.

As these Family Caregivers navigated their caregiving journey, embracing respite care services was nothing short of transformative. The CDC reports that even a few hours of respite a week can improve a caregiver’s well-being. Having a Respite Caregiver meant they could recharge, reconnect, and enjoy peace of mind of knowing their loved ones were in capable hands.

Family Caregivers are the backbone of elder and disabled care and self-care is essential to caring for loved ones. Respite care becomes the glue for holding it all together.

Next Step

If you’ve been wondering, “What is respite care?” let’s talk! At Sunlight, we will meet with you in your home, discuss respite care services, and answer your questions. We’ll also assess care needs and identify your goals. There is no cost for this meeting, nor is there any obligation. See what respite care looks like for you!

Call us at 402-200-5555 ext. 1 for Lincoln or extension 2 for Omaha. In the Des Moines area, please call 515-335-4075.

Or, Email us,

Or you can schedule a meeting on our website.