Caregivers need and deserve a break!
What is respite?
RESPITE is a break from caregiving.
Nearly every caregiver says they want and need at least an occasional break.
Respite can be provided through formal services – such as providers coming in to the home to care for your loved one while you get away for a few hours, or through day centers and overnight facilities where you can take your loved one to be cared for by someone else while you are at work or out of town. Respite is also possible, when friends, family, or neighbors provide occasional support for the primary caregiver to take a break.
Research has found that caregivers who use respite are healthier and happier. They are less likely to burn-out or feel the stress of caregiving. As a result, they are better caregivers. Those who take respite regularly (i.e., on a schedule, at least a few hours every week) get the greatest benefit. Unfortunately, many caregivers do not adequately plan for or schedule respite time for themselves, resulting in feelings that they “wasted their time” when they do get respite. Others feel it is too hard to get-away from caregiving, or feel guilty about taking time for themselves, so do not prioritize the need to take respite for themselves.
The Time for Living and Caring (TLC) app was created to normalize the use of caregiver respite, and to help caregivers maximize the benefit of whatever breaks they may have available to them. TLC recognizes respite as an important, even essential, part of being a good caregiving.
What is TLC?
TLC is a set of online resources to help caregivers maximize the benefits of respite – no matter if they have only an hour of respite every few weeks or whether they have multiple hours of scheduled respite every day.
TLC consists of an interactive calendar, where caregivers can plan and schedule their respite time. It also includes a series of self-assessments and a dashboard to help caregivers track their respite goals and become more aware of their respite time-use.
Caregivers who have used the TLC app have reported overwhelmingly positive feedback. They reported that using TLC helped them increase the amount of respite time they received, as well as increased the benefit they felt from their respite. These positive results were achieved by using the TLC app for as little as two times per week for an average of 8-10 minutes each time.
After using TLC, 75% were satisfied with what they did during respite, compared to only 43% prior to using TLC.
Prior to using TLC, 90% of caregivers reported not having enough respite. After using TLC, less than half reported not having enough respite.
Caregiver Testimonials
Budgeting time to myself is paramount to being a good caregiver. Seeing the planned times on the calendar gives me value as a person of worth
I like that I schedule my respite. I like that the time I do have to myself or the time I scheduled is labeled respite. It makes me appreciate that I really do have carved out time to stop the world and focus on other things I love to do
Honestly, I am taken back about how just calendaring time out has made such a difference – thank you!
Respite becomes more valuable when the time and activities are scheduled. Even if the activity is to disappear and do nothing. Without a respite schedule, the time gets squandered.
Having a goal of respite each week has been helpful and has reduced some of my anxiety.
I am learning that scheduling respite ahead of time is very helpful. I am actually able to schedule more time than I realized and still give the care needed – we are both happier.
The process of scheduling time off (and making arrangements to be able to take the time off) has been a real boon!
TLC helps me focus on what I want to do with my time. It helps me plan to do things that really nurture me.