OUR CHILD RESPITE    CARE  SERVICES

Respite care is essentially in-home, specialized care that provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. At Beutler's Caring Connections we can be the ones that provide the primary caregivers a break. Respite care can be arranged on a regular basis or as needed, and can last from a few hours to overnight. For parents of a child with special needs of any kind, respite care can mean the difference between thriving and surviving, we do not ever want anyone to feel as though they are just surviving, we are here to ensure you and your child thrive. Here are some helpful tips to help guide you with choosing child respite care.

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You don’t have to leave your child in order to benefit from respite care. Initially, you may not be comfortable letting someone else take care of your child, and that's ok. Let yourself relax a little bit each time and built trust with your caregiver. Show them how your child likes things done and how you like things done. You can build up to running errands, leaving the house a little more each time. Those experiences may change the way you look at staffing caregivers and leave you feeling comfortable knowing your child is having fun and being taken care of while you're gone. 

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Respite care services look different for each family. There’s no “right” way to use at-home care, and parents can decide which tasks are most helpful for the caregiver to perform. In fact, respite care services are tailored to each unique family and their child’s needs. We match families with caregivers who are best suited to meet their needs and perform the most necessary tasks. 

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It’s helpful to ask about your caregiver’s qualifications and experience. A key factor in trusting your caregiver is understanding their qualifications and knowing they’ve met our highest standards. Our caregivers complete a thorough interview process, industry compliance trainings, and must also maintain annual requirements and certifications (i.e. CPR) that exceed state minimum requirements. We have very high standards in who we recruit and train, which translates into providing reliable, often over-qualified caregivers.

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Respite services can benefit every family member, not just parents.
There’s no doubt that respite care gives parents much-needed breaks, time to rest and uninterrupted time to accomplish a variety of tasks both in and out of the home. It’s a common misconception that respite care exists exclusively to help parents, but the benefits extend to every member of the family. Grandparents benefit from a break sometimes from the help required for other children and their stress of worrying for you. Other children get the benefit of your full attention. Close friends and support groups see the benefits full circle for you.

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You may qualify for financial help. It can require time and research, but many families find state programs that provide financial assistance for respite care. Check to see if your state has a Lifespan program through the ARCH National Respite Network. There are also Medicaid waivers that cover respite care costs for children with special needs. Benefits vary by state and can have waiting lists, so it’s best to be proactive and apply early. For military families, the Navy’s Exceptional Family Member Program can also help cover costs.

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