As a Marketing Director, we see it all, from families in crisis, to a prospective resident planning for their future. We’ve got a lot of ways we can assist folks into a new apartment, but I never realized how crucial offering a respite apartment could be, until recently when I worked with a particular family in crisis. The son came to The Ivy informing me that his parents live in another state, they have been home, ALONE, this entire pandemic, and mom has started to decline rapidly. She’s having delusional thoughts, acting very unusual, and wandering at all hours. His dad wasn’t sure what to do and clearly didn’t have the necessary “tools” to help his wife effectively, who they had finally sent out to the hospital for an evaluation. We decided we needed to make a move… and fast!! We got Dad to The Ivy immediately and placed him in one of our fully furnished respite apartments. Mom was transferred to a local hospital and upon her discharge would also go to The Ivy’s respite apartment. In the meantime, the son now had the daunting task of clearing out a home that his parents had lived in for over 60 years. I reminded the son that our respite apartment gave him the time he needed to re-group. He didn’t need to schedule movers and decide on furniture or belongings right this second since his parents could stay in our respite apartment for up to three months. Right now, he just needed to focus on his mom and getting her healthy and home. A month later, his mom came to The Ivy to live with his dad, and together they chose their permanent apartment. They helped their son decide what to bring to The Ivy and played an active role in their move to our community. Today, they are thriving! They walk every morning, join in on all the activities, and are invaluable members of our community!! I saw first hand how instrumental a respite apartment can be in a community. For out of state moves, fast transfers, emergent situations or even just trial stays, the respite can be an essential piece in helping individuals make the transition….and families, like the one I worked with, are beyond thankful!!
What is a Respite or a Trial Stay?
A respite or trial stay’s purpose is to give caregivers a short break, while at the same time providing their loved one with a new social and safe environment. The stay is typically a few weeks to a month or two. Our trial stay option gives prospective residents an opportunity to experience our communities without the commitment. Our trial stays can also be beneficial if your loved one is hesitant about assisted living and isn’t sure what to expect. It can be a nice way to get a foot in the door and warm up to the experiences and amenities that make assisted living so wonderful. Our trial stays also are used to give families and caregivers a needed break or vacation. It can also be used if a caregiver has a medical situation or they are unable to care for their loved one while they heal. Caregiver burnout is a real concern, and we can’t properly care for our loved ones if we ourselves have taken on too much. Starting your trial stay is a simple and easy process. And includes:
- Private fully furnished apartments
- Cable, phone, and Wifi included
- Month to month rent
- No large entrance fees
- Three meals a day prepared by our chef
- A calendar full of activities and events
- Housekeeping weekly
- Plus more!
Our respites are beautifully furnished, one-bedroom apartments, with a kitchenette, living room, bedroom, and very large wheelchair accessible bathrooms. We offer emergency pull cords in all the rooms. Cable and telephone are already set up in the apartments. The individual just needs to bring their clothing, toiletries, and medications. Individualized care plans will be created with the Nurse just as with other residents.
How Respite Care Helps You Choose an Assisted Living Community
Nowadays we understand most people tour multiple communities and it’s difficult to really know which community is the right fit for your parent. With a respite or trial stay, the potential resident will have the opportunity to really live within the community, make new friends and get to know the staff, food, activity programs, and much more. All of this will help your loved one feel more comfortable with their decision to finally make the move. In every case, the transition to this new environment takes time, patience, and understanding. Once they get past that transition phase, they can decide if they really feel comfortable living with our family.
Moving Without the Stress
A respite or trial stay carries none of the stress of a regular move, such as potentially needing to sell their home, downsizing their current home, and packing and unpacking all their belongings. Instead, the move is about them and how they feel about the community rather than everything they may have to give up. We have personally seen how baby-stepping this process for some individuals can make for a much more successful transition into the next phase of their lives. One where they will have fun, eat delicious and nutritious foods, participate in fun programs, and socialize with new friends.