Reports on the development and implementation of an in-home respite program using trained volunteers to provide at-home companionship and supervision for frail elderly persons while family members are absent. Project RENEW volunteers and families are described, and a discussion of difficulties and future directions is presented. (Author)

Families of disabled children (N=32) using respite care over a four-month period reported positive impact on family relations, social activities, emotional and physical strains, and plans for institutional care. Families caring for younger children viewed the services as more helpful than parents caring for older children or adults. (Author/CL)

Respite care for parents of mentally retarded children may be provided through such services as placement agencies, group day care, existing community residences, state residential facilities, funding conduits, and camperships. Partlow State School and Hospital in Alabama has sorted an increasing number of families, since its inception in 1980.…

Describes Wanderer's Lounge, program developed by one nursing home to provide activities to benefit Alzheimer's victims and at the same time provide respite for more alert residents and staff on their units. The program and its benefits are discussed. (Author)

This paper discusses the development of an overall network of respite care services in the Federal Republic of Germany, the need for respite care services, efforts of a national organization called Lebenshilfe, evolution of the concept of respite care, and future tasks. (Author/JDD)

This study of 78 mothers of mentally retarded children and adults found that respite care acts as a differential service that can enhance coping resources and is of most benefit to high self-esteem mothers of young developmentally disabled children, especially as a home-based model. (Author/JDD)

Many parents of children with autism and other severe disabilities report heightened levels of stress due to the unique challenges their children present. Respite care is likely to alleviate some of the stress associated with caring for a child with a severe disability. However, it is often difficult for families to identify motivated and…

Significant evaluation findings for a respite care program include the following: (1) training sessions enhanced workers' knowledge of disabilities, (2) families with recently disabled children received more benefits from respite services than families with long-term disabled children, (3) services provided parents emotional relief, and (4)…

Describes Time Off Promotes Strength (TOPS), program for caregivers of Alzheimer's victims which provides in-home and day program services. Explains that, through application of service/training model adapted from Global Deterioration Scale, TOPS maintains high quality of services with limited but highly trained professional staff. (Author/NB)

The needs of families of autistic children are discussed and a program designed to prevent unnecessary institutionalization by providing comprehensive services and reducing the stress in the child's family is described. Parents participate through voluntary, program related, and support activities. The family services include respite care and…

A parent of a severely handicapped daughter living at home in Alberta, Canada, discusses the need for family support systems such as respite care, reduced rent for needed equipment or vehicles, and financial aid to allow normal family living. Government and family are seen to share responsibility for the handicapped individual. (DB)

Describes Alzheimer Support/Tender Loving Caregivers Project which represents the efforts of a mental health center to collaborate with an interfaith coalition to recruit and train church-based volunteers to provide respite care for frail elderly and their families. Describes educational component as overshadowing service. (Author/ABL)

This two-page fact sheet summarizes typical approaches, programs, and resources in the area of family support and respite programs for families with special needs. Principles of family support programs are listed, stressing the common goal of increasing the ability of families to successfully nurture children. Typical components of such programs…

This report accompanies House of Representatives bill 2088 and recommends passage of the bill to revise and extend programs established in the Temporary Child Care for Handicapped Children and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986. The bill extends the programs for 2 years, strengthens reporting requirements, and requires the states to provide interagency…

Respite child care is a form of short-term care provided in a family day care home or a child care center for the purpose of helping families that are experiencing stress. At an average cost of $300 to $400 per month, respite care is cost effective. Since 1983, California's child care resource and referral agencies have administered a small…