Not many places offer short term respite care. What do you do if you want/need to go away for a week or two?

Assisted living places here will do short term respite stays on a space available basis usually with a two week minimum. And home care agencies will schedule a team of three caregivers in shifts. Very important is that you are honest and forthright about her needs. You wouldn't want somebody calling you to come get her after 24 hours because they do not have the skills needed to care for her properly.

Most places here want respite for a month, minimum.

Take a full month and enjoy the hell out of it. :)

Wow, a whole month does sound enjoyable. :)

Do you have a neighbor that could look in on her or is she needing full care?
Suggest looking into senior services or hospital for caregiver referral. My name is in our local hospital database and I always get calls from discharged patients.

Hi there, I'm in Florida. My mother goes for respite care 1 week per month. I'm already starting to count the days again. She goes again on March 15th. If it wasn't for this time, I would be completely bonkers. It is good for both of us. Also, it keeps her out of a home full time. I did have to call around and search the internet to find a place. Some places advertise respite care, but require a Doctor's order for it. We found a wonderful place, and went to look at it as a family. We started the respite care in October. (Mom has lived with us since September of 2012)...my only regret is that I didn't start this sooner.

Brenda-
You are so fortunate and it sounds as if you have a family willing to work together! We are still working towards a weekend a month that I can take off! And haven't had a weekend since November 2012. But did have two weeks respite in August of 2012.

Oh gladimhere, 2012 was a long time ago!

Brenda that sounds so wonderful. One week a month would be perfect!

Ugh, family drama Ocdltd, not what you need for your daughter's wedding!

My sister takes our mom sometimes but she travels a lot for work and is not always available. I seem to have a three month limit and then I must have respite or I go insane. We should start a chain of respite hotels, there are millions to be made.

Janet-
A hotel chain what a great idea, with roving caregivers!

What I would like to see is a neighborhood of 6-10 single family homes, as a fenced subdivision, where only those with dementia live with their caregivers. There could be neighborhood gatherings, and always another caregiver to assist for a bit so we can get out for awhile. And always another caregiver to talk with during those times when you really need it.

If you have a "Home Instead Senior Care" agency near you. They are the best, truly the best. They offer respite care. You will not be sorry. I couldn't believe how good and caring they were. We went through a couple agency's. They didn't show up, put "refused all care" on the sheet (she will do that put the HI caregivers will not take no for an answer) everything would smell like urine when we got home. Not anymore, and they get her to walk to the bathroom. The other ones would change her in the living room (encouraging her to be lazy and just wet her pants) HI caregivers get her to the BR everyday and every 2-3 hours.