The Story of How Respite Services Saved Cathy's Christmas
As November nights drew in, there was a hint of festive jingle, but would our Caregiver and her loved one find any Christmas cheer? Could Respite Services help?
Cathy Wasn’t Looking Forward to Christmas This Year. Could Respite Services Help?
It had been a tough year for Cathy. Mum hadn’t been so well. Between doctor’s visits and a hospital referral, it turns out Mum has onset Dementia. Cathy was devastated. Mum had always been so bright and full of life; now she had moments when she didn’t know who Cathy and her kids were.
Mum also needed more help with daily tasks. Cathy jumped in. She agreed with her boss to work from home for more days each week. Still, she couldn’t seem to get ahead. She started putting family events on hold too. But gradually, Cathy began to feel overwhelmed, lonely, and incredibly guilty about feeling that way.
As November ended, the Farnham shops started to fill with Christmas presents, food, and fun. Cathy found herself outside a toy shop with a bag of groceries and new meds for Mum. Standing by their huge Christmas display, surrounded by families smiling and pointing to the latest toys and games, she realised she couldn’t feel it. There were no jingle bells, no merrily-on-highs, no Christmas spirit. Cathy felt numb. “I don’t know how I’ll manage everything this year. I have to look after Mum,” she whispered.
Home Instead Care Manager Carol Appears. Can She Explain How Respite Care Works And Save Christmas?
It was then that Cathy realised that a stranger had overheard her. The smiling stranger, wearing a mulberry-coloured jacket and a lanyard that said, “Home Instead, ” introduced herself as Carol, Care Manager at Home Instead Farnborough, Farnham, and Fleet.
“Looks like you need a cuppa,” she said, whisking Cathy to a nearby café. Cathy, who was usually quite reserved, found herself opening up to Carol, telling her about Mum’s dementia and their care journey so far.
“I feel like I’m struggling,” she admits. “But I can’t let Mum down.”
“Has anyone ever told you about Respite Services?” Asked Carol.
“No.”
“Respite services are temporary home care options that take care of Mum and give you a bit of a break.”
“What does it entail?” Asked Cathy, taking another sip of her tea and wondering if Mum would take to a stranger in the house. More importantly, could she?
“Well, we tailor our help to give you what you need, so in Mum’s case, we could provide 24-hour live-in care with a fully trained dementia care professional.” Carol continued, “Your Care Pro would be responsible for managing the day-to-day, from meds to exercise, and they’d also provide companionship.”
“But they’d still be a stranger in Mum’s house. I don’t know how I feel about that.” Cathy wriggled in her chair, showing her discomfort.
“One thing we do is care match. It’s a process where we work with you to choose the right Care Pro for Mum. That starts at our initial home visit when we carry out our free wellness check.”
Carol pushed her glasses onto her nose and continued, “When we visit you, during the wellness check, we assess what Mum needs, from practical things, like environment checks – can she move around safely and how can we help her avoid a fall? We’ll also look at tools that might help you both, from personal alarms to extra nightlights – particularly important if she gets up more during the night, which she might on her tablets.”
She sips her tea. “We’ll also speak with Mum and find out what she likes, doesn’t like, and what makes her laugh—because there’s an emotional and mental aspect to respite care.”
“When we have all the information, we formulate a care plan and email it to you. If you want to proceed, we will match you with a prospective Care Pro based on Mum’s needs and hobbies.”
“And what if I’m not keen on the Care Pro?” Cathy asks.
“That’s not a problem. We’ll work with you both to ensure a good fit. That gives you peace of mind that you have a Care Pro who keeps Mum safe and happy and communicates openly with you.”
Cathy softens.
Looks Like Respite Services Can Help Make Christmas Easier
“So, can respite services help me at Christmas?” Cathy asks.
“Yes. We work over Christmas, and respite services are often a great way to help caregivers take a break and enjoy reconnecting with family and partners or just putting their feet up for a bit.”
“And you don’t have to feel guilty,” Carol continues. “Your respite Care Pro can help Mum at family events or Facetime with you all. They will also have Mum’s care covered. So Mum gets what she needs and has some fun, and you get time to work on yourself. The idea is that you return to care with more energy and capacity to deal with your care journey.”
It’s worth considering. Cathy thought.
Cathy let out a big sigh. A sigh said, “Help is just around the corner.” At that moment, she suddenly noticed the smell of mince pies hot from the oven. As she watched the café owner place a fresh plate of treats down for his customers, she felt a weight lifting.
Smiling, Cathy said, “Do you know I think I can feel it? Christmas, that is. And I think both Mum and I could use your help!”
*Disclaimer. This is a dramatised version of a common event for our clients and how learning about care options can help them care for their loved ones.
