Respite Services
Providing care for an intellectually and developmentally disabled person can be greatly rewarding but it can also be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting as well. Studies indicate a family caregiver suffers a chronic condition at more than twice the rate as a non-caregiver. Evidence supports the fact that stress can take as much as ten years off a caregiver’s life. Anxiety and depression are just two of the many issues caregivers face. Siblings experience a lack of attention due to much of the caregiver’s time and energy being concentrated on that one individual’s needs. In a high number of cases, there is also a financial strain on the family due to the cost of taking care of that loved one.
Respite care can and does help these individuals. Whether it’s for a few hours a week to run errands or a few weeks of the year to take a much-needed vacation. Respite care offers caregivers the chance to reduce stress, restore energy and keep their lives in balance. This balance benefit spreads to the intellectually and developmentally challenged individual and the rest of the families as well. Respite care service encourages independent action and decisions as much as the individual is capable of. Exercising use of life and work skills coupled with social activities assist these individuals with gaining confidence and life skills independence.