Easter Seals Disability Services

One of the Family

Many children and adults with disabilities need round the clock care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This is why it’s so important to help these families and caregivers get a break from their responsibility and this is where Easter Seals Central California comes in.

Easter Seals In-Home Respite Services provides that break that is so very needed. The program offers those families and caregivers the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy breaks because they have the peace of mind in knowing that their loved one is being taken care of by someone they can trust.

Each respite staff member typically spends anywhere from 15 50 hours a month in the clients home, often during evenings or weekends when a break is much more needed. Amanda Pollock, Easter Seals Respite Coordinator, takes extra care in matching each staff member with the client and family.

Everyone involved meets first through an introductory meeting and if each person feels comfortable, then it’s a match! “One thing I love about respite is making sure the clients, families and respite staff are well matched so the relationship is long lasting,” Amanda said.

When a match is made, relationships are formed and the families begin to rely on their respite staff. Often-times they become so close the respite staff becomes just like a member of the family.

Respite staff members and their clients participate in a variety of activities. The program is completely client focused and the respite staff will work on goals that the family has set. Sometimes the client’s life can be so structured during the week that families like to use respite time to give the client a break so they can have some fun and relax.

Older clients often just want a friend, someone who will listen. It becomes their special time where the focus is completely on them. No matter what the client and the respite staff member do, whether it’s go to the mall, play a sport, go fishing or just talk about boys, it’s clear that the bond between families, clients and respite staff members can last a lifetime.

To learn more about Easter Seals Central California’s In-Home Respite Program, please visit our Respite Services page.

Or please contact Respite Coordinator, Amanda Pollock at 831-684-2166 or apollock@es-cc.org.

If you would like to help support Easter Seals Respite Services,
please click on the button below to make a donation.