Respite care is one of the NDIS plans most important services, providing you, a primary caregiver, with a break from the occasional stresses of caregiving. Whilst you provide the support that professionals might otherwise offer, it is important that you are able to have time for your own endeavours, whether that be work, a business trip, a holiday, or some much-needed rest at home by yourself.
Respite carers are enlisted to support the NDIS participant when you have a break from your typical role. They can be enlisted for as little as a day to multiple weeks, ensuring that the participant receives the care they usually would if you were available.
There are many benefits to having respite care handy for when you and your NDIS participant need them.
Respite care is a benefit for everyone
You know it more than anyone: caregiving can be tough. There are good and bad days, and ultimately you deserve more than anyone to have some much needed time to rest, refresh and recharge.
What’s more, enlisting respite care also offers your NDIS participant a short-term break and the opportunity to try something new, whether that be taking part in a community activity, trying new things, or making new friends. This fantastic service truly allows both you and your loved one/participant to have a refresher.
It gives you a reminder that you too need to enjoy your life
It’s an unfortunate truth that primary caregivers are often at risk of burnout and exhaustion, especially when they are part of an older caregiving situation. It’s important to remember that your life shouldn’t be dominated by providing care and that you too are entitled to enjoy the things you love in life as much as anyone else.
Respite care provides you with the opportunity to get back in touch with the joys that might have been left behind when you were enlisted to provide ongoing care for an NDIS participant. Whatever those joys may be: exercising, going to the movies, painting, whatever, it’s imperative that you have the time to enjoy your life so that you are not putting all your time and energy into providing ongoing care.
Respite care allows for caregivers to be more social and back into the normal world
Social isolation is one of the major problems for caregivers, especially if their typical caregiving demands most of their time and energy. By enlisting occasional respite services, you will be providing yourself with a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with the people you may not have had the chance to see of late.
Social isolation is a driving factor in caregiver burnout, so it’s vitally important you take the time to see friends and loved ones outside of a caregiving situation.
These are three great ways respite services are helping families and other primary caregivers through the NDIS. If you are a primary caregiver who could use a break, feel free to contact the Solution Street respite care experts.
