Dementia caregivers: Expectations of respite care

Abstract

Caregivers of dementia patients frequently request respite care to alleviate the stress of 24 hour care. At the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center in-hospital respite care is offered to families for pre-planned two week stays. Family caregivers speak favorably of the experience though they often note functional deterioration of the impaired person. Nonetheless, they frequently request repeat stays. Thirty-seven care giving families who had utilized this program were queried about their reasons for needing such care, as well as their expectations of it for themselves and for the care receiver. The questionnaires were completed at three different time intervals. The family care provider 's subjective experiences provide insight into the value they place on such a program.