I need some info on respite care. How do you get set up to leave your LO at a respite facility and what are the price ranges? I live in an area that is remote and don't have alot of the help that is available in the larger metro areas. I am getting worn out, exhausted, tired, you name it I feel it. Patience is at an all time low also. Who has info on this?

Hi!

I have no idea about the respite stuff but I found a link online that should. I hope it helps!

http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheime ... e_care.asp

The links are at the bottom of the page.

Katrina

Also wanted to say I understand where you're coming from. MIL has an infection going and we're just worn out since she's not feeling well and taking it out on everyone too.

I hope things get better! Praying for you and yours!

Kat

Linda,
The last year Bill went into hospice and they provided us with respite. Hospice paid for five days a month for Bill.
We went to a nursing home for the respite care. The last two times, I visited different homes to see how I liked them and then told hospice where I wanted him to go.

Not all NH provide this service and some require a longer stay than five days. The charges are the same as a NH patient would pay. The NH will tell you the daily rate. Anywhere from $150-220 a day. Depending on what the NH charges.

If you can swing the cost, it is well worth it. Just having a few days with no worry works wonders.
There was only one time that I felt the need to visit him during the five days he was there. The other times I did not visit.

Most NH will do the laundry while they are there. But I found with five days, it was easier to just take enough changes of clothes for the time he was there. That way I didn't have to worry about losing clothes in the laundry.
Bill was wearing diapers all the time and NH provided the diapers. Also I didn't have to take pajamas because they had him wear a hospital gown. They also povided the wheelchair.

I found that the smaller the NH, the better care and attention he received.

Linda,
I want to add that most NH require a chest xray withing 60-90 days before they accept them.