title: The provision of health and social care services for older people by respite providers.
abstract: Respite services have been established to support family carers by providing a break from the responsibilities of caregiving. However the literature and anecdotal evidence suggests that respite services offer carers much more than just providing a period of rest. This study was initiated to identify and describe the health and social care services that are offered to family carers and care-recipients by respite services in South Australia. The findings show that respite providers offer a service to both the family carer and care-recipient. Both groups are offered socialisation and engagement opportunities, and care-recipients have access to a diverse range of health care services. The description of respite that emerges from this study is that of a complex service offering much more than just a period of rest from caregiving duties.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D012144:Respite Care; D012947:Social Work