5 Signs Your Family May Benefit From Respite Care

When you are caring for a child with a disability, developmental delay, complex medical need, or behavioral support need, caring for your child is only one part of everything you do. 

There may also be medical appointments, therapy sessions, school meetings, medications, insurance paperwork, equipment, behavioral supports, advocacy, transportation, and the everyday responsibilities that come with raising a family. 

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, there is still work, laundry, dinner, relationships, siblings....and you. 

Respite care can help. 

Respite care provides temporary care for a child so their regular caregiver can have time away from caregiving responsibilities. Depending on the program, respite may happen in the family's home, at a center, through a community program, or in another approved setting. 

Respite isn't only for families experiencing a crisis. In fact, using respite before a family reaches that point can be an important part of creating a sustainable support system. 

The U.S. Children's Bureau notes that respite can reduce caregiver stress and social isolation while benefiting children, siblings, and overall family dynamics. (Child Welfare Information Gateway) 

So, how do you know whether respite might be helpful for your family? 

Here are five signs. 

1. You Can't Remember the Last Time You Had a Real Break 

We're not talking about grocery shopping alone or sitting in the car during your child's therapy appointment. 

When was the last time you had several hours when you were genuinely off duty? 

For families whose children require additional supervision or support, finding someone who can safely care for their child may be difficult. That can mean parents and caregivers are essentially on call all the time. 

Over time, that can take a toll. 

Respite creates intentional time when another qualified caregiver takes responsibility for your child's needs. 

And what you do with that time is up to you. 

Go to dinner. Take a nap. Spend time with friends. Exercise. Run errands. Go on a date with your spouse or partner. Sit in a quiet house and do absolutely nothing. 

A break doesn't have to be productive to be worthwhile. 

2. Your Other Relationships Are Getting Less of You 

When one child requires significant care, it's natural for that child's needs to consume a large portion of the family's time and attention. 

But parents and caregivers often tell us they wish they had more uninterrupted time with: 

• Their spouse or partner 

• Their other children 

• Friends 

• Extended family 

• Each other as a family 

Maybe a sibling's soccer game is difficult to attend because your child can't tolerate the noise or crowds. Maybe date nights disappeared years ago because finding a babysitter who understands your child's needs feels impossible. Maybe you haven't had one-on-one time with another child in months. 

Respite can create space for those relationships, too. 

Federal guidance specifically recognizes that taking a break from caregiving can benefit not only caregivers but also siblings and overall family dynamics. (Child Welfare Information Gateway) 

Sometimes respite isn't about getting away from your family. 

It's about having enough time and energy for all of your family. 

3. You Feel Like You're Always in Caregiver Mode 

Parenting and caregiving naturally overlap, but when a child requires extensive support, the caregiving role can become enormous. 

You may be coordinating specialists, administering medications, helping with personal care, managing behaviors, monitoring safety, communicating with schools, advocating for services, attending therapies and keeping track of information from multiple systems. 

ARCH National Respite Network resources recognize the challenges family caregivers can face while balancing caregiving with employment, their own health, finances, and family and social relationships. (Arch Respite) 

If it feels difficult to ever turn "caregiver mode" off, respite may provide something very simple but important: 

Time to just be you. 

Using support doesn't diminish your role in your child's life. It can help make that role more sustainable. 

4. Your Child Could Benefit From Time With Other People, Too 

Respite isn't only about the caregiver. 

It can also be an opportunity for the child. 

Depending on the type of respite program, children may have opportunities to: 

• Meet new people 

• Build friendships 

• Practice social skills 

• Play with peers 

• Experience new activities 

• Build independence 

• Practice communication skills 

• Become comfortable with trusted adults outside their immediate family 

This can be especially valuable for children whose parents have understandably had to become their primary caregivers, advocates, interpreters, problem-solvers and support system. 

A quality respite environment should be more than a place where a child is simply "watched." 

It should be a place where the child is safe, respected, included, and given opportunities to enjoy being a kid. 

5. You Keep Thinking, "Other Families Need Respite More Than We Do" 

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about respite care. 

Families sometimes assume respite is only for someone whose situation is more difficult than theirs. 

"We're managing." 

"Someone else probably needs that spot more." 

"My child's needs aren't severe enough." 

"We're not in crisis." 

But respite doesn't have to be a crisis service. 

Support can be most valuable when it helps families remain healthy and connected before things become overwhelming. The Children's Bureau specifically identifies respite as one of the services that can help family caregivers take needed breaks from ongoing caregiving demands. (Child Welfare Information Gateway) 

You don't need to prove that you're exhausted enough to deserve support. 

If respite would make life a little easier for your family, it's worth exploring. 

Respite Can Look Different for Every Family 

There isn't one "right" way to use respite. 

For one family, it might mean having time to attend another child's activity. 

For another, it's a Saturday date. 

Someone else may use the time to clean the house, go shopping, catch up on work, spend time with friends - or sleep. 

And sometimes respite means giving your child an opportunity to have their own experiences while you aren't there. 

What matters is finding a respite option that works for your child's needs and your family's life. 

What Respite Looks Like at WHALE 

At WHALE Respite Center, we created respite around a simple idea: 

Children of all abilities deserve a place to belong, and their families deserve support, too. 

Our weekend respite program gives children opportunities to play, participate in activities, interact with peers, build relationships, and enjoy time in an inclusive environment while their caregivers have time for whatever they need. 

Whether you need respite regularly or simply want to learn what's available, asking about support doesn't mean you've reached your limit. 

It means you're building a larger circle of people who can support your child and your family. 

At WHALE, that's exactly what we believe community should do. 

Learn More About Respite Care 

For additional information about respite care and caregiver support, families can visit the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.

Interested in weekend respite at WHALE? Complete our Weekend Respite Inquiry Form to start the conversation.