McAllen Senior AdvisorWhat are the signs a family caregiver is burning out?
Exhaustion that sleep does not fix, getting sick more often, losing patience with the person you care for, dropping your own doctor's appointments, withdrawing from friends and church, and feeling trapped are all signs of caregiver burnout.
Burnout is common among caregivers who live with a parent and work at the same time, a familiar arrangement in many Valley households. It is not a failure; it is a signal that the care plan needs more people in it.
Where can a McAllen caregiver get respite?
Respite can come from a licensed adult day (DAHS) center on weekdays, attendant hours at home, respite authorized through a STAR+PLUS health plan for a Medicaid member, VA respite for enrolled veterans, or in-home respite contracted through the Area Agency on Aging.
Hidalgo County has 130 licensed adult day (DAHS) centers, more than any other Texas county, and most run their own vans. The Area Agency on Aging of the Lower Rio Grande Valley ((956) 682-3481) offers caregiver support coordination: it assesses the caregiver and the person receiving care together and arranges services such as respite and caregiver education.
Can a family caregiver be paid in Texas?
In some cases: the STAR+PLUS consumer-directed services option lets a member hire their own attendant, who can often be a relative, through a financial management services agency, and VA programs offer caregiver support for eligible veterans.
The rules on who can be hired are set by each program. Ask the health plan's service coordinator or the VA social worker before counting on payment.
How do siblings share caregiving fairly?
Divide the work by tasks rather than hours, such as one sibling for doctor visits, one for bills and benefits, one for weekend relief, and meet regularly, even by phone, to adjust as needs change.
Siblings who live out of the Valley can often take on the paperwork: insurance calls, benefit applications and bills. Write the plan down and share it so the caregiver living with the parent is not the only one holding it.
What does respite look like in practice?
Respite can be a weekday at an adult day center, a few hours of an attendant at home each week, an overnight caregiver now and then, or a short stay in a facility while the caregiver travels or recovers from an illness.
Plan respite before it is urgent. Introduce the adult day center or attendant gradually, so your parent knows the people before the caregiver needs to step away for longer.
Sources: Texas Health and Safety Code ch. 247 and 242; 26 TAC chapters 553, 554, 558 and 559; HHSC directories, TULIP and handbooks; CMS; CareScout; VA rate tables, as cited above. See our editorial standards.
