Just recently I returned from a vacation trip to Japan; something that had been on my bucket list for years. In fact so long, that it was on an original list my late-husband and I had made decades ago. I did not travel with him, obviously but, instead, with my granddaughter. We had a wonderful time exploring Japan and trying out the very different cuisine, but I often thought during the trip of how much he would have enjoyed it. I got to thinking about the short respites I took as a caregiver and the difference between a vacation and a respite. Caregivers tend to think of a respite like a mini- vacation but it is not that. A respite, by definition is,” A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant”, whereby a vacation is “An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling.”
Thinking of a respite like a vacation sets a caregiver up for disappointment. A respite is simply a time alone for caregivers to re-charge their batteries before the next crisis. It usually doesn’t include a Caribbean Island, a drink with an umbrella, or a faraway destination. A respite is basic downtime and time alone for the main purpose of getting a break from the demands of being a caregiver and reconnecting with one’s self. Respites are very important and do not have to be lengthy or expensive BUT should be a part of all caregivers self-care.
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