Respite Services - Progressive Directions, Inc.
What is Respite?
"Respite" refers to short term, temporary care provided to people with disabilities in order that their families can take a break from the daily routine of caregiving. Unlike child care, respite services may sometimes involve overnight care for an extended period of time.
One of the important purposes of respite is to give family members time and temporarily relieve the stress they may experience while providing extra care for a son or daughter with mental retardation or other disability. This, in turn, can help prevent abuse and neglect, and support family unity (US/GAO, September 1990). Respite care enables families to take vacations, or just a few hours of time off. Respite is often referred to as a gift of time.
PDI Provides Respite Services
PDI provides/secures respite services for Center identified individuals who are eligible according to the DADS priority population for Mental Retardation.
- Respite, In-Home includes services provided in a person's home to relieve other family members or primary care providers of their responsibilities for providing care on a temporary basis for a short period of time.
- Respite, Out-of-Home is designed to provide care to and supervision of individuals outside of their usual residence. The MR Respite promotes contracting out of the home respite services to qualified providers. The provision of service delivery is based on appropriated funds, availability of bed space and the ability of the contracted provider to meet the needs of the identified respite recipient.
In the fall of 2006, PDI completed the construction of a respite house on the lot of the main office on Paradise Hill Road. The new three-bedroom house is fully handicapped accessible, including the bathrooms. This is the only true respite house in Montgomery County, as well as the surrounding counties. The house continues to enable PDI to take provider services to a new level. Every week, we receive calls from families who desperately need a break from the daily challenges of caring for a disabled family member. This facility affords them that opportunity. Wakeman House is named for Bonnie Wakeman. Bonnie retired in 2006 from PDI after over 25 years of loyal service to our organization and the individuals we serve.
Respite care is temporary, short-term placement of an individual in a setting other than the individual's home environment. Respite provides care givers an opportunity for vacation, stress reduction, and support during emergencies. It also provides the individual time away from home when necessary. The respite setting is in a DePaul-approved home. Respite can be used by families or individuals in the community who meet eligibility criteria.
