Disability Care Colorado: Find Caretakers for Your Child so You can Take Care of YOU!
We all know the challenge when it comes to caring for our disabled loved ones. Sometimes, we need a break, or we have other people and obligations that require our care and attention (like working, our own medical care, our marriage, friends, other children or older family members that we care for.) But the task of finding caregivers to take care of our disabled loved ones is daunting.
Respite can look like a lot of things. It can be in your home, as-needed for occasional outings, or scheduled at regular times, such as when you need to work. It can also be a drop-off group program, like a respite organization that hosts summer programs for school-aged children. Respite care can also support disabled adults and enhance their sense of belonging as they bond with their caregiver and get more involved in their communities!
Respite care is usually defined as temporary relief for family caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual of any age with special needs.
It is a break from caregiving for a loved one. Respite care typically involves bringing in care providers that can provide medical or companion care to the individual requiring care, so the caregiver can spend time independently of their loved one. Source: Colorado Respite Coalition https://coloradorespitecoalition.org
Autumn back-to-school time is the most challenging for me. For our disabled teenage son, the shift from summer fun to school demands is not easy. I like to go for a hike with my husband or have a cup of coffee in peace and quiet. Resets and me-time are so important for us caregivers!
For years, my friends kept requesting help, so I've informally been their ‘Badass Connection to Providers.’ I recognized the massive need to connect caregivers with Colorado families seeking care, so I launched DisabilityCareColorado.com (DCC) to fill this growing need. Medicaid provider agencies (Program Approved Service Agencies, or PASAs) do not have a sufficient pool of respite workers ready to come help you. At DisabilityCareColorado.com, an annual fee of $149 gives you access to an experienced pool of direct services providers, and you can use the Medicaid PASA agency of your choice for funding or choose to private-pay directly.
Think about how much your time is worth. Most people spend HOURS calling their case management agency or asking around to find providers, and case management agencies are too overburdened to help! Our DCC members believe that $149 is a small price to pay for ease and convenience.
DisabilityCareColorado.com also benefits respite care service providers because it allows them to connect with people, just like you, who are seeking care for a disabled loved one. Our website will help them work as much as they choose in a role that they love. It enables them to showcase a profile that explains their experience, location, and what agencies they are associated with.
My goal is that DisabilityCareColorado.com will be a statewide resource and point of connection, to build our community stronger. The caregivers do get screened, but you will need to fully vet the providers you select; we leave it up to hiring customers to personally interview, call references and ensure a solid comfort level. But just getting connected easily with people who want to care for your loved one is a giant time and stress saver!
Currently, DisabilityCareColorado.com is accepting registrations from families and parents like you who are seeking care, as well as caregiver service providers located in Colorado.
HOW TO GET YOUR RESPITE CARE SERVICES FUNDED
The BEST way to get respite care services funded is on an on-going basis over the lifetime of your disabled loved one, and you can do this by obtaining a Colorado Medicaid Waiver, or by better using the waiver you already have. So if you don’t have a waiver, please consider investing in our program, Roadmap for the Waiver Journey, so you don’t miss out on up to $100K per year in potential income and the value of waiver services (like respite care) you can access! To get into the Roadmap for the Waiver Journey program, please sign up for my next Wednesday evening FREE live Info Session to make sure it’s right for you!
Respite care services can also be funded on a more limited basis through Family Support Services Program (FSSP): https://hcpf.colorado.gov/family-support-services-program-fssp
Or respite grants from the Colorado Respite Coalition: https://coloradorespitecoalition.org/our-programs/family-voucher-program.php.
RECOMMENDED COLORADO RESPITE CARE RESOURCES
Summertime for school-aged children often means summer programs and sleep-away camps. There are also some amazing year-round group setting, drop-off care events like All-Stars Club www.allstarsclub.org or the
Easterseals Discovery Club: https://www.easterseals.com/co/programs-and-services/play/discovery-club/
Nightlights has four metro Denver and one Colorado Springs location: https://nightlightskids.org/locations/
And in Colorado Springs, The Resource Exchange offers: https://www.tre.org/services/break-time/
Ask around your community and at your case management agency about these!
Plus, if you want support in a group who understands your challenges, join the free online Navigating Disability Community to ask questions and hear about great options from other members just like you!
BONUS: FREE GUIDE ON FINDING AND HIRING PROVIDERS
And here’s a special bonus for you: Submit the form on the Respite Care Guide page of our website and you’ll receive an email that enables you to download the FREE guide: How to Find and Hire Respite Care Providers. This guide offers the steps you need to take to start your own advertising and screening process to line up a team of providers that meet your needs!
So to wrap this up, I get it. As caregivers for disabled loved ones, we ALL need breaks from time-to-time. So if you don’t have a waiver, get on one, which will give you access to funded respite care services. And then subscribe to DisabilityCareColorado.com to get connected to service providers more easily!