In-home respite care can be provided by friends, family or an agency. Most commonly, when someone refers to in-home care, they are referring to an agency. A respite care agency provides skilled caregivers and may offer nurse caregivers, as well.
For those with special care needs, a nurse caregiver may be the best choice, but often with elder loved ones, someone to provide assistance with basic daily living tasks, companionship and supervision is all that is needed. Agencies will typically provide insurance and bonding for their employees, which can provide additional peace of mind.
With any caregiver, including those from an agency, be sure to check references and request a background check. Many states offer elder/child care abuse checks, as well.
In-home care can be arranged for a few hours, or even a few days if you need extended time off for travel, but it does get costly quick. Doing your research and budgeting ahead of time can help avoid unwanted surprises. Many agencies require significant notice for long-term assignments, so plan ahead!
