Santa Clara Elder Lawyer: How to Avoid Burnout When Caring for an Elderly Family Member

Everyone knows that caregivers of elderly family members face a difficult task—one that’s made even harder since many must also take care of their own children, as well. These caregivers often burn out and are left exhausted. An experienced Santa Clara elder lawyer will often give their clients information about respite care and adult day care. These services give the caregivers a chance to relax and recharge, allowing them to provide even better care for their loved ones.

Respite care

Respite care is usually given by family members, trusted friends, or professional caregivers and helps both the caregiver and the senior. The caregiver gets a chance to take a break or tend to other responsibilities, while the senior gets a bit of a change of pace. Churches and senior centers offer respite care services, but oftentimes it happens right in the home. Respite care includes companionship, personal care, meal prep, and medication assistance, among other things. An elder law attorney can give you a list of locations that provide respite care if you don’t have any close friends or family who can help. They can also refer you to agencies that provide respite caregivers. If you take the agency route, make sure the agency is fully licensed and insured and has a good reputation.

Adult day care

Adult day care facilities are different from respite care since they are organized programs that provide more care options for seniors. Adult day care centers handle all the services that are provided in respite care and are also great places for seniors to socialize and participate in activities. Adult day care facilities offer little to no medical services to seniors, even if they are associated with a hospital or other medical care facility. These centers usually can only help with giving medication and prescribed physical therapy, depending on their facilities. Adult day care centers are more expensive than respite care, but there are several ways to help pay for them, including long-term care insurance and government assistance programs. Again, if you think adult day care might be a good option, you should research the centers in your area to make sure they have a good reputation and offer services your elderly loved one needs.

If you’d like to learn more about respite care or adult day care centers and how to set up a legal plan in general to make your job as a caregiver as easy as possible, please call us at (650) 422-3313 to set up an initial consultation with a Santa Clara elder lawyer.