How to assess if you need respite care and where to obtain it

Where do you begin when your parent or spouse suffers from explosive episodes due to mental health issues, and you feel you are simply burning out?

First, I would check if specific “triggers” cause the anger. Arcadia Home Care has developed this worksheet, ARCADIA – Behavioural Tracking Record. Our Personal Support Workers use it to track behaviors, and you may find it to be a helpful tool as well.

Second, you may need to explore if medications provide the best balance for all concerned. “Peacefully sedated” without the quality of life is not what I would seek for anyone.

The next step is to determine whether you feel comfortable taking breaks or vacation trips to ensure that there is some respite. (Having personally convinced past and current clients to take a vacation after years of being primary caregivers 24/7 is quite a fear — but the results likely saved them from long-term health and economic repercussions).



If you can consider short or prolonged respite care, a critical decision has to be made: “Should my loved one stay home with a caregiver or be placed in a facility that provides short-term respite care?”

There are opportunity costs to keeping someone in a facility versus at home, and as the primary caregiver, you likely know them all. However, if you are at the point of burnout, I believe you require regular respite from being a caregiver so you can keep caring in the long run.

In my experience, it’s best to integrate respite into your weekly schedule. Home care is one way to do this. Having a team with the proper training and supervision can offer hope in what is likely a long-term challenge with no other solutions.

Call us today if you want to explore what solutions may be available for your situation. Our caregivers and Care Managers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we guarantee your satisfaction with all of our in-home care services. To schedule a free consultation, call (416) 977 0050 ext 1 and speak with one of our compassionate Care Managers.