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Every day in homes across Nova Scotia, people are stepping forward to care for family members and friends of all ages so they can remain in their homes and communities as long as possible.
However, caring for someone else can leave caregivers physically and emotionally drained. They may need an opportunity to rest and reset to be able to continue with their caregiving responsibilities.
Jodi Bishara is one of those dedicated, compassionate Nova Scotians caring for her nearly 93-year-old Mom at their family home in Yarmouth. As the primary caregiver for her mom, Barbara, Jodi has taken steps to care not only for her mom, but also for herself by contacting Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care to request an assessment of Barbara’s care needs.
Barbara is often forgetful and confused, so she needs someone to stay with her when her daughter can’t be home and other family isn’t available to assist. Through Continuing Care, Jodi and her mom receive funding to hire individuals to assist Barbara with personal care, meal preparation and light housekeeping. This gives Jodi peace of mind and enables her to continue to work as an office administrative assistant at Yarmouth’s Saint Ambrose Parish and volunteer in her community.
As a result of her mom’s assessment, Jodi also has access to respite care for her mom so she can take a break and care for herself or participate in work activities that occasionally take her away from home for longer periods of time.
Respite care can be arranged at home or at a designated licensed long-term care facility (nursing home) across the province through Continuing Care. “Facility-based respite is an essential provincial service that Continuing Care offers families and caregivers to ensure their loved one is cared for while they have that much needed period of rest and rejuvenation,” said Suzanne Spence, placement coordinator with Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care.
Facility-based respite offers 24-hour care while in-home respite is typically for a set number of hours.
A respite bed gives an individual who needs a place to stay, assistance with personal care, meals and nursing care for a scheduled amount of time (up to a total of 60 days within a calendar year) until they return home. “Mom is often up through the night, so having this flexibility and opportunity to recharge is a game changer,” said Jodi.
Jodi and her mom chose facility-based respite care. “I can count on the facility being able to take mom and this provides her with consistent care, which is reassuring for both of us,” said Jodi.
A respite bed is available at a long-term care facility right in Yarmouth. When Jodi needs to arrange respite care, she contacts her care coordination team member at Continuing Care. “Mom has stayed at the long-term care facility in Yarmouth a few times. Even though she prefers to stay home, she is very positive about her experience,” said Jodi. “Attending mass each week is very important to mom and this is offered at the facility, which means so much to her.”
Respite beds are available at various locations throughout the province and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is recommended that caregivers book beds well in advance. There is a standard charge for a licensed respite bed, which may vary due to individual circumstances, so it is recommended to call Continuing Care for the current rate.
If you or a person you are caring for needs assistance to remain at home, requires support following a recent hospital stay, or as a caregiver you require respite support, you can call Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care to make a referral: 1-800-225-7225 (toll free in Nova Scotia). Continuing Care will work with you or someone in your care to create a personal care plan. For more information, visit: