January 13, 2012

by: Renee Canfield

Seeking Respite

Caregiving is a demanding job and no one should be in the position of caregiver twenty-four/seven. Learning to seek out and ask for help is critical for both your health and well-being as well as for your loved one. Respite care can provide an important opportunity for short term breaks that relieve stress, restore energy and promote balance in your life. The best time to plan for and seek respite care is before you become exhausted, isolated or overwhelmed. It can take many forms but boils down to two primary ideas: share the responsibility for caregiving and get support for yourself.

The first step is to determine what type of support you need most.  As a caregiver, do you need more time for daily tasks like grocery shopping?  Help with transportation?  Time for exercise or personal time for yourself or with your partner?  Take a look at your support network.  Can you and a partner set specific times weekly to “trade off” caregiver responsibilities so that you both can exercise or do a solo activity you enjoy?  Do you have family members that can fill in on a regular basis so that you can do the household shopping or have coffee with a friend?  Another great option is to expand your search to other families in a similar situation with similar needs.  Perhaps you and the parent of another special needs child can trade babysitting once a month for a monthly night out for you and your partner.

Involving your loved one in appropriate community-based activities can also provide respite for yourself. Some local examples of quality community-based programs include Youth Challenge, a nonprofit organization that provides adapted sports and recreational activities for children with disabilities, Camp Cheerful, a camp with a variety of different camping programs for children and adults with disabilities or the Adult Day Program  at UCP.  These types of programs offer a safe, enriching setting for your loved one while giving you time for yourself.

For longer time commitment needs or specific situations, respite care can also take on a more formal role.  In Cuyahoga County, if you are a part of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) Family Support Services Program, they will pay for on-going respite care by an approved provider.  The Ohio State Medicaid program will pay for up to fourteen hours of approved in-home aide care if your child is on Medicaid.  If you know ahead of time that you will need respite care for a specific event, such as a wedding, vacation or family reunion, you can contact respite care programs like Hattie Larlham’s Respite Care Program—just be aware that waiting lists can be as long as a year, so plan ahead!

If you are seeking respite services outside of your family or personal network, be sure to conduct a thorough interview with potential providers.

• Conduct an in-depth interview with each candidate. Screening applicants on the phone should always be followed with a personal interview.
• Be specific about all of the tasks, skills, and schedules involved.
• Discuss compensation and payment schedules. Do not pay for services in advance. 
• Request several work and personal references, then check them carefully. Verify the information provided, and ask all references about reliability, trustworthiness, punctuality and the care provider’s ability to handle stress.
• If possible, consider a background check. Professional services cost between $100-$150 and can alert you to potentially serious problems. Check with your local police department, legal aid service or attorney for referrals to reputable investigators or search for “background checks” on the Internet.
• Always include the potential care recipient in the screening process if he or she is able to participate, to ensure that both parties are comfortable and that your loved one’s needs are respected.

If you are ready to plan for respite care, but not sure where to start, contact  Case Management Services  at UCP for specific resources.  Another great place to start for community-based resources is United Way’s 211 First Call for Help.  Start planning today for your respite care needs, it will benefit not only you, but your loved one and your family.

---