Need advice - respite care?

[cinboggs]

Hi all. I need some advice. I have a very loving and caring (but always trying to "fix" me and my situation with Lucy). She thinks my support system is lacking, which is true. We really don't have any caregiver support to help out with those times I need to get away for a bit, or just go grocery shopping. Lucy just won't deal with grocery stores, or much else. So, the extent of any outing is usually therapy. Anyway, I guess without writing a novel, I really need to know how to go about "advertising" for a caregiver for short respite care, we are on a waiting list through our local md/dd organization, but I understand the wait list is years long. I am not sure how to go about screening a person, I have always worked from home, so neither one of my kiddos have ever been in the care of anyone else. What do I need to pay attention to, think about, ask. Have any of you used respite care? I am not talking about long lengths, just an hour, maybe two. I envision someone who can develop a relationship with Lucy, someone I trust, but more importantly, she trusts. I am scared about this. I also have mixed feelings about my sister always trying to fix things, as if things are so out of control, but that is perhaps another topic. I don't know ...if any of you have any advice on that topic too, I would welcome it.

Thanks...

[lacyndarella]

I would check with your local center for Independent Living. Their services may not be appropriate, but they should be able to give you some guidance as far as the kinds of questions to ask.

[alizesmom]

Some thoughts:

1. Ask about experience with children and with any special situations that the carer may come across.

2. Get and check references.

3. Trust your gut, if something feels wrong then don't chose that person.

4. See how the person interacts with your daughter. If your daughter doesn't like him/her then move on.

5. Set up a trial period where you remain in-house and can observe how things go.

6. Do a very short trip initially.

You can always train the right person to work with your daughter. One place to try to hire from is a college (especially student nurses, teachers etc.).

Hope this helps. Karen

[khfernandez]

Have you considered hiring someone to stay in your home? I have a nurse come in 3 times a week, and if i need to leave town she comes every night. I don't live in the US, so the prices aren't too high. Also, I would look at schools for physical therapists or other allied medical professions and post an ad on a bulletin board.
Kimberly

[Bec]

Others provide good advice so I won't repeat just add.

You can call your local Police Department to find out about background checks. I think it runs about $35 per check.

Do you have a college close to your home? We advertise at the local colleges for after school respite care. That said, College Students are pretty transient.

In the last 1.5 years, we have had 5 girls with Spencer. Why so many?

1 was from a Jr Co and went to a major university closer to her home.

2 schedule changed the next college yr and conflicted with our needs

1 moved

We have two now that take different days a week to meet our needs. As college students, if they don't live locally, they go home on weekends, summers, spring and christmas breaks. This is why we now have 2 girls. They call each other to cover when the other one is unavailable.

When I create my flyer, I limit the amount of personal information on Spenc. I state I am looking for someone willing to work only 10 - 15 hours a week. (That is another issue. During the summer, they want more hours.) Looking for Tutor / Respite Care Provider. Excellent opportunity for Education or Medical Majors working with a 2nd grade child with special needs.

One of the girls we have now is a freshman Nursing Major in a 4 yr college. I am really hoping she works for the long haul. Spenc doesn't like the constant change.

The other girl is an OT major. Her sister is the Nursery Care Worker on Staff at our church. She works with Spencer on Sundays at church, too. It helps having the added reference of her sister. She is also local so she can work the holidays and summers.

I invite them to meet Spencer's SpEd Teacher and join the annual IEP meetings. (This is nice for their resumes.)

The girl that moved onto a Major U changed her major from 1st grade teacher to SpEd Teacher and is working as a Para in her college town.

Then there is the issue of pay. We pay $15 an hour. It helped with the transient issue.

Good luck.