Respite Care During the Holidays: Why Taking a Break Is an Act of Love, Not Guilt
- jenna624
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Jenna Fralick, BScN RN
When “Holiday Spirit” Meets Caregiver Exhaustion
Every December, we meet families who call me with the same shaky mix of exhaustion and guilt in their voices:
“I should be able to do this myself.”“It’s Christmas… I can’t ask for help now.”“Mom has dementia, and this feels like abandoning her.”“Everyone else seems to manage—why can’t I?”
If you’re a caregiver caring for an aging parent, a partner living with dementia, or a loved one with disabilities, you’ve likely felt the same pressure. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably tired—emotionally, physically, and financially.
The truth is simple: Caregiving becomes heavier during the holidays.
Routines change, responsibilities multiply, and the world expects you to be joyful while you’re running on fumes. This is where respite care becomes not only helpful, but lifesaving. And yes—respite care is an act of love, not failure.
At RW HealthCare, we’ve watched families transform once they finally accept even a few hours of help.
This blog is for those families. And for YOU!
Why We Struggle to Ask for Help (Especially During the Holidays)
Caregiving sits at the intersection of three major social pressures:
1. Gendered caregiving expectations
Women over 50 carry most of Canada’s family caregiving labour—unpaid, unrecognized, and unsupported (Fast et al., 2022).
2. The myth of “I should be able to do it all”
Caregivers tell themselves they’re the only one who can keep their loved one safe—especially when dementia or Alzheimer’s is involved.
3. The holiday guilt trap
December tells us to be festive, grateful, full of joy. Caregivers often feel the opposite: stretched thin, grieving the way things “used to be.”
But here’s the truth I want you to hear from a real nurse who has seen thousands of families:
You are not supposed to do this alone.
Not during December. Not during dementia progression.Not when Alzheimer’s symptoms intensify. Not when you’re burnt out and losing yourself.
This is where respite care becomes your lifeline.
Respite Care During the Holidays: What It Actually Means
Respite care simply means giving family caregivers a break—not replacing them, not diminishing their role, and certainly not “giving up.”
Sometimes that break is two hours. Sometimes it’s a full night of sleep.Sometimes it’s Christmas morning with your grandchildren. Sometimes it’s a moment to breathe, cry, or regroup.
At Remember When HealthCare, respite care during the holidays is built around:
Your schedule
Your culture
Your values
Your loved one’s personality
Your holiday traditions
Whether your needs include dementia home care, Alzheimer’s support, help for persons living with disabilities, or safety supervision—respite care adapts to you.
It is not selfish to rest. It is essential.
How Respite Care Supports Families Living With Dementia and Alzheimer’s Over the Holidays
December is always harder for families living with:
Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease
Memory loss
Cognitive decline
Disabilities
Why? Because change is overwhelming.
Holiday crowds, noises, decorations, and disruptions can trigger:
Wandering
Confusion
Agitation
Sundowning
Anxiety
Exhaustion
This is where respite care becomes crucial.
Your loved one deserves stability.You deserve support.
RWHC respite care offers:
Consistent staff (not different people every visit)
Dementia-trained attendants
Gentle redirection
Safe holiday outings
Medication reminders
Overnight support
Companionship
Meal preparation
Help with activities of daily living
And unlike public options, there are:
No waitlists
No assessments
No eligibility restrictions
Just help—right when your family needs it most.
Why Holiday Burnout Hits Caregivers First
The research is very clear:Family caregivers—especially women—face significantly higher levels of burnout, anxiety, depression, and health decline when supporting a loved one with dementia or disabilities (Stall et al., 2019; CIHI, 2022).
Add Christmas obligations on top, and it becomes unmanageable.
Signs of burnout we see every December:
Crying behind closed doors
Feeling resentful
Forgetting appointments
Snapping at loved ones
Health issues worsening
No time for yourself
Sleeping poorly
Feeling numb
Feeling invisible
Burnout isn’t a personal failure. It’s a sign you’ve been carrying the world on your shoulders.
Respite care protects your health so you can keep caring in the long term.
“But Mom Only Trusts Me…” — The Fear No One Talks About
This is the #1 fear caregivers confess to me privately.
Let me say this as gently as possible:
Your loved one may trust someone else sooner than you think.
You would be amazed how quickly people with dementia or Alzheimer’s:
Light up when a new voice enters the home
Engage with a fresh face
Feel calm with consistent companionship
Respond well to a structured routine
Many families tell us:
“I didn’t realize how tired I was until someone else stepped in.”
The truth is: Caregiving is too big for one person. It’s okay to need a team.
FAQ
What Is Private Respite Care?
Private respite care provides short-term, flexible support so family caregivers can rest while their loved one stays safe at home.
At RWHC, private respite care includes:
Dementia & memory care
Personal care
Companionship
Meal prep
Medication reminders
Overnight or 24/7 support
Help for persons living with disabilities
Transportation for seniors
You choose the hours. You choose the schedule. You choose the services.
We support both the client AND the family.
How Much Does Private Respite Care Cost in Nova Scotia?
Private respite care is billed hourly. The exact cost depends on:
How many hours of support you need
The type of care you require
Whether overnight care is required
Many families start with just a few hours per week, while others require:
Daily support
Overnight care
24/7 care during the holidays
Our respite care is flexible with:
Personalized plans
No minimum number of days
You only pay for what you choose
And yes—many families qualify for financial help. Check out our guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Homecare Funding in Nova Scotia - available for purchase today! Find out about benefits and grants you may be eligible for to help ofset the cost of homecare in Nova Scotia!
Why Respite Care Is Also About Social Justice
Caregiving is not just a personal responsibility—it is deeply shaped by social inequities:
Women do more unpaid caregiving work
People with disabilities face barriers to in-home support
Public home care is underfunded, overstretched, understaffed
Rural and lower-income families have fewer options
Dementia caregivers have higher levels of stress than any other group (CIHI, 2022)
Choosing respite care isn’t just practical.It’s a stand for fairness.It’s recognition that you deserve support too.
You Don’t Need to Wait Until January — Help Exists Now
If there is one message I want families to take from this December blog, it’s this:
Your well-being matters today.
Not after burnout. Not after a fall. Not after hospital discharge. Not after a crisis during Christmas dinner.
Today.
If you’re ready for support—whether a few hours per week or extra help over the holidays—our team is here.
We offer compassionate, nurse-led, holistic, client-centered care across Nova Scotia and PEI.
👉 Learn more or book your free in-home assessment
👉Check out our Respite Care Options
You deserve rest. Your loved one deserves support. Both can happen at the same time.
References
Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2022). Supporting informal caregivers: Key facts and figures. CIHI.
Fast, J., Lero, D., Duncan, K., & Doucet, A. (2022). Gender, work, and care: A Canadian perspective. Journal of Women & Aging, 34(3), 321–338.
Stall, N. M., Kim, S. J., Hardacre, K. A., Shah, P. S., Straus, S. E., Bronskill, S. E., & Rochon, P. A. (2019). Association of informal caregiver distress with health outcomes of community-dwelling dementia care recipients: A systematic review. JAMA Internal Medicine, 179(2), 233–244.
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