4MyChild: Help and Hope for Life

November 29, 2006

Respite Care: Giving Yourself a Break

Respite care is the temporary residential care for a patient with the intention of providing some relief for families and care givers. Respite care is important — often care givers can have seemingly overwhelming stress that gets in the way of their ability to cope and function.
Finding time for yourself is vital. Plan to take a class you enjoy, go to a movie with your husband or the library with other children or even a vacation. Keeping yourself balanced and focused will help all the members of your family and you will be better able to cope with the intensity of caring for your special needs child.

Taking the time to balance the needs of the special needs child will help with your ability to cope and mother your special needs child and as well as maintain a personal and family balance.

There are many organizations that can help you find respite care:

You can find respite care by State here: National Respite Care Locator (Other Respite Care Services)

• ARCH National Resource Center for Respite and Crisis Care Services
  Assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs; to help families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities; and to serve as a strong voice for respite in all forums.
• Respite Care: A Gift of Time
  From the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
• Respite Care for Children Who Are Medically Fragile
  From the ARCH National Resource Center for Respite and Crisis Care Services
• Respite Care for Children with Autism
  From the ARCH National Resource Center for Respite and Crisis Care Services
• Respite Care for Children with Developmental and/or Physical Disabilities: A Parent’s Perspective
  From the ARCH National Resource Center for Respite and Crisis Care Services
• Respite Care for Children with HIV-related Conditions
  From the ARCH National Resource Center for Respite and Crisis Care Services
• Respite Care: Q & A’s
  From Arc
• Understanding the “Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act”
  From the ARCH National Resource Center for Respite and Crisis Care Services