Jackie McGee, Work-Life Specialist
Consider this: You’re going out of town on business or vacation and need in-home care for an elderly and/or disabled loved one. Where do you turn to find assistance while away?
It’s a question that a lot of us ask in preparation for being away. Respite care provides short-term care and relief for caregivers. There are different options for respite care, but determining the best choice for our needs – and the needs of dependents – can be daunting.
DIY Options
One option for respite care is to do your own research. But, just like with after-school care for children or selecting residential care facilities, finding respite care is a personal investment. When you do your own research, you’re submitting to a time-consuming and stressful process.
Why not ask someone you know, instead? Asking family, friends or acquaintances can be risky; it’s best to find professional care options from reputable, credentialed service providers.
Perhaps you can reach out to your employer for assistance. How, you ask? If your employer offers an employee assistance program (EAP) benefit, then you might have access to services that can guide your respite care search.
Turning to an EAP
An EAP benefit typically includes a work-life service that assists with locating respite care resources for elderly and/or disabled loved ones. At FEI, our work-life specialists provide referrals on facilities within a five-to-ten-mile radius from your loved one’s home. Taking advantage of a work-life benefit saves time, worry and anxiety.
You can even share the referral information with other co-workers who aren’t already aware of the EAP, or encourage them to contact work-life for their own care needs.
Seeking respite care does not mean you’re neglecting your responsibilities to an elderly and/or disabled loved one. Respite care serves as a tool to maintaining your well-being and resilience as a caregiver, if not as a necessity when you must be elsewhere.
Grant yourself peace of mind by working with your EAP to help find the best options for you and your loved ones.