A VA inpatient respite program for patients with dementia.

Abstract

can result in high levels of stress, unwanted social role changes, depression, anxiety, a lowered sense of wellbeing, feelings of being burdened, deterioration of physical health, and a general feeling that life is overwhelming (5). Research on the family caregivers of persons with dementia has consistently revealed that respite care ranks among urgently desired community services (6). Inpatient respite care is a shortterm out-of-home stay for the patient with dementia. In the VA system, sustained treatment and rehabilitation units, nursing home care units, and extended care rehabilitation units usually provide this care for a short period, generally one or two weeks. The service gives the caregiver—who is usually related to the person with dementia, often as a spouse or adult child—a break from the stressful task of caring for the patient at home. As well as providing temporary relief from worry and stress, this type of service gives the caregiver time to attend to his or her own needs (7). The purpose of this column is to discuss the effects of inpatient respite care on persons with dementia and on their caregivers and the clinical implications for both patients and caregivers. We include a synopsis of an inpatient respite program at a local VA medical center as an example and make suggestions for better serving persons with dementia as well as their caregivers.