Easter Seals offers caregiver respite services

When Lucette and her husband, Dennis, started caring for their five grandchildren fulltime it was very overwhelming. The time they had set aside in their life to relax was quickly replaced with caregiving needs. They soon realized they could not do it alone. Easter Seals Relative Respite program saved the day and gave them back some personal time to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate.

"I am so grateful for the Relative Respite program. Respite is so essential to an individual's peace of mind and ability to unwind," Lucette says. "You get so busy trying to keep up with the demands of the kids, but you have your own life too. Respite keeps my life balanced. You have to remember that you are just as important and valuable."

November is National Family Caregivers month. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are more than 34 million family caregivers, like Lucette, in the U.S. One of the greatest needs of these caregivers is respite or a temporary relief for caregivers and families who are caring for children or adults with disabilities, chronic or terminal illness or the elderly.

Through Easter Seals Lifespan Respite programs, partially funded through the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, any caregiver, including grandparents and other relatives caring for children under the age of 18, can enjoy a break from caregiving. The program is administered by Easter Seals, but the caregiver chooses who provides respite care - a friend, neighbor, camp or agency.

Thanks to the grant Lucette received she has been able to take time by herself to read, meditate and rest her mind. Lucette and Dennis have also been able to travel to Wildwood, N.J., for vacation and to Mexico to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary.

"I know caregiving can sometimes feel like a thankless job. For us, respite services say thank you. It says thank you for taking the extra step to care for these children," she says.

Easter Seals has a case manager on staff to help families navigate through what can feel like a very daunting path. For information on any caregiver or respite services contact Joyce Medkeff at 302-221-2076 or resources@esdel.org. With the holidays in mind Easter Seals is also offering free copies of the brochure "Coping with the Holidays and Other Special Events." Call or stop by for a copy.

Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland's Eastern Shore offers a range of services, including children's therapies, assistive technology, recreational camping, day programs for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities and respite services for caregivers. To learn more about how Easter Seals helps children and adults with disabilities, call 1-800-677-3800 or go to www.de.easterseals.com.