Options for respite care: In-home or Outside-of-home

Respite care in the family home

This can be formal, such as personal care services or home health services through various types of in-home care programs under the Department of Human Services for a family member while you take a vacation; It can also be informal, such as simply having a neighbor come over while you go shopping.

Advantages of in-home care:

• The person receiving care may be more comfortable at home with familiar settings and routines.
• All necessary equipment, toys, medications and other important items are right there.
• The home is already set up for the person receiving care.
• The home may be the best site for training a new provider.
• The family can relax in one part of the house while the provider cares for the family member in another. This is especially helpful while getting to know a new provider.

Disadvantages of care in the home:

• You may prefer to take your break at home. Respite may be a rare chance to have the house to yourself. This may also be a time to work on projects at home without distractions.
• Making arrangements for you to be away from home during the respite time may be time-consuming or expensive.
• You may not feel comfortable having someone in the home while you are away.

Respite care outside the home

Options for care outside the home can include:

• care in the provider’s home;
• a respite center;
• after-school or weekend activities in the community;
• a summer or holiday camp;
• a “parents night out” program;
• a “respitality” program;
• a family co-op, barter system or exchange;
• a companionship program (Big Brother/Big Sister, Special Friend);
• a group home, residential facility or hospital.
• crisis or emergency respite care

Some of these respite options may be available in your community. Contact your local Lifespan Respite Program Coordinator.

Respite in the provider’s home: some examples

• friend, neighbor or relative
• home provider located through a respite referral or listing program
• registered child care provider

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Respite center

It’s often located in schools, churches, and community centers. Respite can be offered after school, during the daytime or on Saturdays for children and for adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs. There are also day programs for seniors that offer respite to spouses and other primary family caregivers. Additional special times can also be available during holidays or summer breaks. Programs usually require planned scheduling, but may also have “drop in” times.

Potential advantages:

• Trained and supervised staff
• Planned, age-appropriate activities
• Opportunities to socialize
• Frequent, planned access to respite

Potential disadvantages::

• May be limited to a certain age group or special need
• Transportation required
• May be higher costs due to staffing, space and other expenses.

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Community activities

Some fun and interesting activities can be offered through city parks and recreation programs, Church programs, or other community programs such as:

• Arts and crafts classes
• Martial arts classes
• Organized sports activities
• Senior excursions

A respite care program may be able to help you use these community activities by:

• Using respite funds to help pay for the activity;
• Finding someone to attend the activity with the child or adult;
• Advocating to assure that activities are open to persons with special needs;
• Helping to make modifications so that activities are more accessible.

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Summer or holiday camp (Overnight or day camps)

There are many kinds of camps, including some specialized camps for children with special needs. Camps do offer many of the benefits as those through respite centers and community activities, such as: structured activities, trained staff, and a predictable length of time for respite. Check with your local Lifespan Respite program coordinator for possible assistance with payments. You can also check with your local Campfire, United Way, school districts, Education Service Districts and other agencies for information on camps and “campership” or other financial assistance.

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“Parents Night Out”

These programs provide a safe and fun place for children while caregivers get a needed break. A typical parents night out program:

• takes place for a few hours on a Friday or Saturday evening;
• is offered once or twice a month;
• takes place in an agency facility or donated space (a school, for example);
• may have paid or volunteer staff, and recruited skilled providers.

To find out about local parents nights out, contact your local Lifespan Respite program coordinator.

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“Respitality”

Sometimes, local hotels donate rooms or facilities for a weekend to parents or primary caregivers, while respite providers care for the child or adult with special needs. To find out about local “respitality” opportunities, contact your local Lifespan Respite program coordinator.

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Family co-ops, exchanges or barter systems

Respite can be occasional informal care or structured formal cooperative systems. It usually involves no cost or exchange of money, but a trade of hours by members of co-op families.

Within the co-ops, families can have organized training for co-op members on CPR/First Aid, behavior management and other issues. Contact your local Lifespan Respite program coordinator for assistance with possible operation of respite co-ops.

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Companionship programs

It can be an informal arrangement with neighbors or friends for someone of a similar age and with a similar interest to share an activity together in the community. This can be a trip to the mall, seeing a movie, or just playing or hanging out together.

It can also be a formal arrangement through programs such as Big Brother/Big Sister, “Special Friends” or “Fostering Friendships”.

To find out about local companionship programs, contact your local Lifespan Respite program coordinator.

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Respite care in a residential facility

Often available in group homes, residential programs, nursing facilities, hospitals and other programs.Benefits include:

• Trained staff
• Backup staff available in case of medical or behavioral needs

Potential drawbacks:

• “Institutional” setting with required formal admission procedures
• Cost may be high -- Medicaid or other funding sources may cover as short-term nursing care for children and adults with special needs.

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Crisis or emergency respite care

Important resource in case of:

• illness or emergency hospitalization of a caregiving spouse;
• death in the family, requiring to attend a funeral or memorial service;
• family disruption due to domestic violence
   
  

Contact your local community mental health program or United Way for information on emergency respite services, investigate programs beforehand, and keep their number handy. Also contact your local Lifespan Respite program coordinator for for further information and referral.

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