It may take a village to raise a child, as the ancient African proverb says, but it also takes a village to support our aging loved ones—especially in ways that sustain us all. Family/informal caregiving of an older adult is one of the most honorable, meaningful, and important roles in our lives. However, when caregivers do everything themselves, they often suffer, both physically and emotionally. We are not meant to “go it alone.”
Juliette Kershner
As you enter a new year, accessing community support through respite care could be a loving gift to both you and the person for whom you care—and the earlier the better. “Respite Care” refers to alternative care of your care partner that allows you to take a break. And when you take a break, you return to your loved one more whole and with more of yourself to give. Respite care varies in length and form, including organization provided check-in calls, weekly volunteer companion visits to a care partner, a day or more of help from an adult day care program, or any length of time with home care agency coverage. Respite benefits family caregivers regardless of whether they care for someone remotely, on evenings or weekends, with phone calls, or 24/7 in the home.
To learn about local respite resources (including financial assistance to help pay for respite) or about other forms of support for older adults and their caregivers, visit www.bouldercountyhelp.org, email infoADRC@bouldercounty.org, call the Aging and Disability Resources of Colorado at 303-441-1617…or reach out to me if you’d like to talk about ideas to support your situation.
~ Juliette Kershner is Caregiver Initiative Coordinator with Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, a Division of Community Services. For more information on BCAAA caregiver services, call 303-678- 6116 or email InfoCaregiver@bouldercounty.org.