|
|
|
Back-up PlanHave a contingency plan for someone to serve as temporary primary caregiver in case you have to go away because of another family emergency or are hospitalized yourself. If your family has funds for it, a private care management company can be your emergency contact and arrange fee-for-service respite care and other services. Another resource for information is the web site of the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers, www.caremanager.org. This web site provides a listing of private-pay care managers anywhere in the U.S. For more about managers, see Stage One, section4. Some assisted living facilities and nursing homes provide overnight respite care. You can pay for this type of care privately, or programs such as The National Family Caregiver Support Program may cover it. If you have no one in the area to serve as a backup, it's a good idea to visit several facilities and make arrangements in advance so that they can be called in a crisis. Clients of some government-funded programs may receive facility-based respite on a limited basis if funding is available. For more information on government-funded respite see Stage Two, Section 5. Two resources may provide facility-based respite for care receivers with Alzheimer's or other types of memory loss at no charge to those who qualify:
Ask people in your support group about their back-up plans and what type of overnight respite care they use. Remember your informal support system such as relatives, but know that some relatives who might have stayed with your care receiver in earlier stages of the illness might not be willing or trained enough to do so now. |
