If you are caring for someone, you are considered a Caregiver. We refer to the person that you care for as the Care Receiver. As a Caregiver, sometimes you are not able to do things by yourself, such as have coffee with a friend, or go get a haircut, or go shopping. It can be hard just to find time to do something on your own, as life has changed for you in caring for someone. We work with the Caregiver, as the Care Receiver is being cared for by others. The Caregiver needs to stay healthy so that they can care for the Care Receiver. Our goal is to help the Care Receiver stay home as long as they can.
We have a program called Respite Care. This program helps the Care Receiver stay safe while the Caregiver is getting that break from having to be there all the time, making sure that they are safe. We usually allow 1 to 3 hours to spend with your Care Receiver. Respite Care volunteers are trained and background-checked to make sure that they are ready to spend time with the Care Receiver. I have some volunteers already trained to help with Respite Care. If you think that you would like a break and have someone spend some time with your Care Receiver, maybe play cards, fix a puzzle, read the newspaper or book together, or just visit, please let me know. Our volunteers don’t do any personal care for the Care Receiver.
If you would like to become that volunteer to help that Care Giver have that break, I can get you trained and ready to help someone in need. Please contact Joyce at A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota – Murray County at 507-836-8705 or ace.murray@murraycountymn. gov or you can check us out on the web at www.aceswmn.org
