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Caregivers, Too, Need Time Away

USA Today, 7/24/09

Abstract:

When an elderly relative being cared for at home can't go on vacation, what's a caregiver to do?

Hire a home health aide 24/7, but that's too pricey for many. And other family members may not be able to step in.

Enter assisted-living communities that offer short-term "respite stays," which allow caregivers to vacation or give them a break. With seniors' retirement portfolios at lows, there's more room at some communities, and more are accepting short-timers.

Rosalie Georgeadis of Arlington, Va., has forfeited family vacations for three years because her 95-year-old mother, Lena Manos, wasn't up to going along. She recently checked out the local Sunrise at Bluemont Park before signing her mom up for a trial stay while Georgeadis had surgery. Manos plans to return for two weeks in September while the Georgeadis family vacations.

"My concern was that my mother would be stuck in this apartment, and no one would be paying attention," Rosalie says. "But when we arrived, they had a banner saying 'Welcome, Lena Manos,' brought her a plant and seated her with a different group of people every night" so she could make friends.

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