Coalition funds respite breaks for caregivers

Doug Cunningham moved from Michigan more than two years ago to serve as executive director of the Iowa Respite and Crisis Care Coalition. Photo by Duane Tinkey

Iowa Respite and Crisis Care Coalition

Address:
3821 71st St., Suite A
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Phone:
(515) 309-0858

Web site:
www.irccc.com

E-mail:
doug@irccc.com

Coalition funds respite breaks for caregivers BY MARJORIE SIMOENS
Established in 1993, the Iowa Respite and Crisis Care Coalition is dedicated to helping caregivers maintain a healthy life balance by providing funding for "short-term breaks."

"We primarily are set up to provide short breaks for families who are taking care of loved ones with some sort of special needs," said Doug Cunningham, executive director. "As a caregiver, you get exhausted, depressed and really kind of beat down; you're isolated and lonely. So we try to just kind of give them some time to take back themselves and regroup."

Cunningham said a lot of the work the organization does is "behind the scenes," and a lot of people don't even know the coalition exists until they are faced with a situation that turns them into a caregiver.

"The thing that's hard is until people really have a problem or they are caring for someone with special needs, they really don't know what respite is," Cunningham said, "and until it actually affects your family and you actually see the effects of it, you don't really get it, and that is the thing that is hard for us to kind of demonstrate to people."

Currently, the organization has programs in more than 20 Iowa counties and during 2008 has been able to provide funding to 250 individuals through its respite care services.

Additionally, the group provided funding for 480 children through its Crisis Childcare program, which receives federal money through a grant from Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. Cunningham said the program was extremely helpful during the summer floods in Cedar Rapids and is usually used during times of disaster.

"Families are devastated (during these times); they don't know what to do," he said. "So we offer them short-term breaks so that they can place their children in a short-term foster care home, and then they go clean up their life so they don't have to worry about their children being in danger for that short period of time."

The coalition also offers online training on its Web site to help people improve their caregiving skills.

"We're trying to help build the infrastructure of the caregiver work force," Cunningham said. "There is a lot of work to be done."

Reader comments Posted: Friday, December 19, 2008
Article comment by: Traci Murphy

As a parent of a special needs child with various needs I can say that respite can be a life saver. It is not only the parents of these children that get burnt out. Siblings also have great strain and fatigue from the stress. Many times they are limited to the things they are allowed to do because of the household level of stress. I also am on disability from the continued high levels of stress. Respite helps everyone in the family get a break. Many marriages don't survive the stresses involved. Respite also gives parents time to decompress. Without respite the tension and stress levels just build and build.

Posted: Friday, December 19, 2008
Article comment by: jason fisher

Respite care is a wonderful option for us to get some alone time with our busy schedule. Thank you very much.

Posted: Thursday, December 18, 2008
Article comment by: Marilyn Althoff

As a provider of services to children and young adults with disabilities , we hear from families often about the difference Respite services has made for them, knowing that their loved one is being supported and cared for by trained staff is important. Recently a mom was overwhelmed with appreciation for a group respite afternoon, it was the first time in 8 years that her and her daughter were able to go Christmas shopping together while her son was receiving respite. That is making a difference!!

Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Article comment by: vikki berger

Imagine "hearing" after being deaf... walking after surgery... air after a cave-in for weeks... first apartment after leaving home... pop after years of milk ... a car after years of the bus... graduation after years of study... first paying job after a lay-off. This Is Respite to a loving giver of 24/7, 365 days a year care of another(s). Thank You For Helping Even If Just For An Hour... Thank You.

Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Article comment by: Pam Peterson

Respite is basically a Godsend for a parent/caregiver of a child with special needs. The Coalition for Respite needs to keep the funds for this reason. We need help to keep us healthy, mind and body.

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