If you’re the parent or carer of a child with autism, then respite care can allow you to take a short break without worrying about your child’s care and support needs.
In this post we’ll explain what respite care is, and why it can make a huge difference for children with autism. We’ll also let you know how you can explore respite care options in your area.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is a means for primary caregivers to take a short yet much-needed break. This can last for a few hours, or a few days. Meanwhile, a trained and compassionate carer will ensure that your child continues to receive the support they need while you are away.
Respite Care for Autism
Autism-specific respite care means you’ll get specialist support from trained carers who will understand your child’s routine, repetitive sensory behaviours (also known as ‘stimming’), and sensory triggers. The carers will also be able to use which ever communication method your child needs, supporting in a person-centred care approach
Benefits of Respite Care
As well as enabling you to take a break, respite care can help children with autism build up their independence, and their confidence with unfamiliar environments, situations and people. And if they have any siblings, respite care can enable them to get some much needed one-to-one time with their parents, and an essential break from being the “supportive, patient and understanding” brother or sister.
Why Respite Care is Important
You deserve a break. Respite care doesn’t mean you’re abandoning your responsibilities. It means you’re taking a moment to recharge your batteries and focus on your own wellbeing. This is essential for maintaining balanced, positive, and sustainable family dynamics for the long-term.
What Type of Respite Care is Available For Autistic Children?
There are three main types of respite care available for autistic children and their parents:
- Home Help – This means that a trained carer will come to your home, to look after your child while you take a break. Home help care usually lasts for a few hours, but it’s also possible to arrange for overnight or extended stays. The main benefit of this type of respite care is that your child gets to stay in a comfortable and familiar environment, with less disruption to their routines
- Facility Care – This means that your child will spend some time at a specialist care centre or facility, with sensory rooms, therapy tools, and group activities. They might stay for a day, but some centres offer overnight stays
- Family Care – This means your child will stay with a foster family. The family will be fully vetted, and fully trained to look after children with special care and support needs. This means they can get the care they need in a homely, less clinical environment, while you can take an extended break – for a few days, or even for a week or longer
How To Get Respite Care
The first step is to get a needs assessment for your child, and a carer’s assessment for yourself.
The needs assessment will determine your child’s specific care and support requirements, along with their routine, repetitive sensory behaviours, and sensory triggers. Meanwhile, the carer’s assessment will help you understand exactly how caring affects you, and what sort of respite care would work best for you and your child.
These assessments will also determine whether you and your child are eligible for funding support. At the same time, you could explore the NHS Continuing Care services, along with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
To begin the application process, head to the government’s website. They can connect you with your local council, who will help you find support services in your area.
Respite Care From Crossroads Care Surrey
At Crossroads Care Surrey, we understand how challenging it can be to care for a child with autism.
With our respite care services, you can depend on our trained and compassionate carers to look after your child and their unique needs, so that you can take some much needed time for yourself, whether for a few hours or a few days.
Find out more and get in touch for a free care and support consultation today.
