If you're caring for an elderly parent, either in your home or in their own, then you may get to the stage where you realise that your parent will ultimately need more care than you can give them. Accepting that your parent may need to move into an aged-care home soon can be hard for any child; however, this decision can be way harder for your parent. Older people may not want to move into a home and may refuse to even consider it. If you've reached a stalemate with your parent about where they live in the future, a spell of respite care may help smooth the way for you.

What Is Respite Care?

If you're the primary carer for your parent, then there may be times when you can't look after them or when you need a break. For example, you may be planning a holiday that doesn't include your parent or, if your parent has demanding physical or mental issues, then you may need a break from looking after them to recharge your batteries.

In these cases, you may be able to organise respite care so that someone else can look after your parent for a short period. This can take place in the home or in care facilities. If you're trying to persuade your parent to move into a care home, then this may be the best place for their respite care.

The Advantages of Using a Care Home For Respite Care

People may accept the need to move into care homes, but they may not like the thought of taking this step. Some people just want to stay at home; others are scared of what moving into a care home might mean for them. Even if you find the perfect care home for your parent, you may find that they refuse to entertain the idea of actually moving. This is often down to a fear of the unknown.

However, if you can persuade your parent to have respite care in a care-home setting, then you may demystify the nursing-home environment for them as well as getting a break for you and your family. Your parent may go in for respite care happily enough on the basis that it is for a short amount of time. This stay will, however, allow your parent to learn what living in the home is really like; it gives them an opportunity to meet other residents and staff and, hopefully, shows them that a care home is a good place to live.

Tip: If you're planning on using respite care as a bridge to persuade your parent to move into a care home, it's a good idea to use a home that you think they'll ultimately like living in. Make sure to visit a few local homes and ask the ones you like best if they offer respite care.