NASET's Parent Teacher Conference Handout Part III- Respite Care Suggestions for Parents

Introduction:Parents deciding to leave their child who has special needs in the care of someone else, either in or outside their home, may experience a variety of hesitations. They can have feelings of guilt, anxiety, even a sense of loss of control. Jeanne Borfitz-Mescon (1988) suggests that a number of fears and concerns are common to parents in this situation: that the child may not get as much attention, or that the care may not be as good; that something may be missed; that the caretaker or staff may not be able to comfort their child, and that he or she might be left crying. The anxiety resulting from these very normal and real concerns or fears can in fact cause parents to believe that respite is just not worth it. It is important that a parent becomes comfortable with his/her decision and develop the trust critical to maintaining the peace of mind necessary for relaxation and enjoyment. One way to accomplish this goal is to help parents begin to think about respite care and whether their family, and their child with special needs would benefit from it. The following suggestions may help.