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Respite care in Hamilton

Get relief from caregiving with a Hamilton retirement home

Families in Hamilton are encouraged to find respite care stays in the senior care homes listed below. Retirement homes offer excellent facilities focused on caring for the elderly; a number of Hamilton retirement residences have dedicated memory care wings or related long-term care. Consult with the communities below for details. 

Read Hamilton retirement home reviews before you commit to any retirement residence. 

The benefits of respite care in a retirement home

There are many good reasons to take a short stay in a retirement home (see below) but here’s a look at what you gain from a respite care stay:

Families can rest assured that their loved one is receiving professional care and attention 24/7. It gives them a full break from caregiving. They can also use this time to reconnect with kids, friends, etc. It can also give families vacation time that can refresh caregiving for them. Caregiving family members should make it a habit if they qualify. 

Retirement home staff are trained in care. Hamilton communities with dementia care, for example, are trained in dealing with the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. You'll gain some tips and tricks that will improve your caregiving at home.  

Get a window on the care offered by retirement homes. Many seniors still resist the idea of a retirement home, without first-hand experience of staff's professionalism, the amenities available, and the fun of taking part in activities and being with people their age all day long.

What to know about respite care costs

Residential respite care in the communities above costs $150 to $400 per day depending on the communities’ amenities and services. 

Adult day programs offer structured activities and supervision, costing up to $200 per day (or perhaps more). Learn more about adult day programs near you. 

Hamilton home care companies offer in-home respite care, where a personal service worker provides care, starting at around $45 an hour. Consult with the companies listed above. 

Respite care is available to any Ontario family that qualifies. You can take up to 60 days in a row and 90 days during any calendar year. To qualify, you must have an OHIP card and a reason (including the desire to take a vacation). Learn more about how to qualify. 

More about short stays in Hamilton retirement homes

Respite care is often used synonymously with other types of short stays, although that's a bit mistaken. 

A convalescent care stay in a retirement home is different from a respite stay, describing a senior’s time after surgery for anything from hip replacement to cancer treatments. The presence of professionally trained staff is ideal, as is that of other seniors. People can also enjoy activities and amenities and the general life of a retirement home. You’ll likely be surprised at how fun it can be. 

A retirement home trial stay could be called a respite stay (and vice versa) as you will get all the care you need and get a peak at the life of the retirement community. Trial stays are often one week although many retirement homes recommend two weeks. You get a foretaste of all the benefits of life in a Hamilton retirement home, having someone cook meals and clean your bedsheets, and taking part in activities and simply being surrounded by peers. 

Guest stays are another type of short stay that family members can take advantage of. If family members come in from other cities or other parts of the country, they'll love staying in the same building where their mom or dad is, and get to see how they live every day. It’s not only convenient but eye-opening. A middle-aged child can also do this for convalescence, etc.

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