Little Rock Senior AdvisorWhat are the signs of caregiver burnout?
Constant exhaustion, losing patience, skipping your own doctor visits, withdrawing from friends, and feeling that no one else can do it are the common signs.
Burnout is one of the most common reasons a parent moves. Treating it early often lets a parent stay home longer.
Where can a Little Rock caregiver get a break?
Short respite stays in assisted living or nursing homes, adult day programs, paid in-home help, and caregiver support through CareLink at (501) 372-5300.
Ask Level II assisted living buildings about respite stays of a week or two; it doubles as a trial run.
Can Medicaid pay a family caregiver in Arkansas?
Through Independent Choices, Arkansas Medicaid's self-directed option, an eligible person can hire a relative other than a spouse as an attendant, with payroll handled by a financial management service.
The person receiving care must qualify for the program first. See ARChoices in Homecare.
How do we share caregiving among siblings?
Hold a family meeting with a written list of tasks, from medications and appointments to bills and visits, and divide them by who lives nearby and who has time or money to give.
Siblings far away can take on bill paying, insurance calls and research. A shared calendar prevents gaps.
When is it time to move a parent because of caregiver burnout?
When the caregiver's own health is suffering, when safety depends on someone being awake all night, or when respite and paid help no longer close the gap.
Moving a parent is not a failure of love. Many families find the relationship improves once a building handles personal care and the family can go back to visiting as sons and daughters.
What respite options exist in Grant and Perry counties?
Fewer than in Pulaski County: Grant County has one assisted living facility and one nursing home, and Perry County has no assisted living, so families there often use nursing home respite or in-home help.
The area agency on aging offices in Pine Bluff and Russellville can point Grant and Perry County caregivers to local respite and caregiver programs.
Side by side
| Respite care is | Respite care is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A planned break for the caregiver | Giving up |
| Length | Hours to a few weeks | Permanent |
| Places | Adult day programs, assisted living, nursing homes, home | Only nursing homes |
| Bonus | A trial run of a community | A commitment to move |
Sources: Arkansas Office of Long Term Care assisted living rules, the Health Services Permit Agency's Bed Need Book, Arkansas DHS waiver and PACE fact sheets, CMS, CareScout and VA rate tables, each cited in the text. Our editorial standards explain how we check them.
