Be a Companion - Give a Caregiver Respite

Respite Care

Respite care volunteers offer quality companionship to someone with memory impairment or a chronic condition. This allows the primary caregiver to take a few hours off to attend to their needs. This has several benefits as it gives the primary family caregiver time:

• To enjoy other activities like lunch with a friend or other social outings.
• To run errands or make appointments without feeling rushed.
• To take a break, both mentally and physically.

Often times, people living with disabilities or memory loss and their caregivers have limited social contact outside their families. Volunteers are welcomed as friends, and relationships develop; caregivers begin to cope better with daily stress, and thus the whole family is served. Volunteers are paired with a family and serve 4 - 16 hours a month, although there is no minimum or maximum amount of time that can be donated. This time can be spent painting, listening to music, doing puzzles, and socializing in other amazing ways!

Trained volunteers provide non-medical companionship, supervision, and a friendly face for older adults and those with disabilities, allowing their primary caregiver some time away for work, family, and rest. This ensures caregivers know they are not alone and that help is available.

Training

Respite Volunteer Training is offered to support respite volunteers. The training only takes 2 hours, and the education explores HIPAA and client confidentiality, boundaries, professionalism, and respect. It also includes case examples, caregiving-centric issues, and dementia education.

Matching Process

Neighbors Helping Neighbors takes great care to match a volunteer and family. The Volunteer should feel comfortable handling the Care Receiver’s level of functioning. The Care Receiver should feel comfortable and respected by his/her new Volunteer companion.

Questions?

Call 507-287-2010 or email volunteers@familyservicerochester.org