Whether it’s for just a few hours, a week or an extended vacation, respite care can help ease the burden of family caregiving and help to relieve stress, restore your energy, and promote balance in your life. It can also prevent you from becoming exhausted, isolated, or even burned out. Respite care can benefit the person you’re caring for, too, providing them with variety, stimulation, and a welcome change of routine.

Seeking support and maintaining your own health are key to managing your role as a caregiver, so it’s not selfish to need time to yourself. If you’re overwhelmed by the daily grind of caregiving, your patience and compassion will wear thin, you’ll find it harder to connect with the person you’re caring for, and you’ll probably both feel unfulfilled. After a break to recharge your batteries, though, you’ll feel more energetic, focused, and reinvigorated about your care giving role. You may even be able to pick up tips on new ways to tackle common problems you face as a caregiver, helping to make the care giving journey a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for both you and the loved one in your care.