Care Provider Spotlight
By Carrie Young, MR Supervisor, Lynchburg

KUDOS to our folks in the MR Waiver Program who provide respite for other care providers and families in the community! Your help is extremely important and appreciated by these families and the staff at DePaul Family Services. Respite care is important because it provides much needed support to our care providers, often preventing burnout.

When someone becomes a care provider they are asked to perform an incredible feat in providing love and care for people with special needs. This is not an easy task and in order to perform this with the best possible quality, they need to have some time to catch up with their families and themselves. Being a respite provider is not an easy job.

Respite providers are often asked to help at a moment’s notice, so they must quickly rearrange their schedules and make arrangements to meet the client’s needs. Respite providers have to be excellent “hosts” in order to make a client feel welcomed in a strange place. In addition, respite providers must arrange for suitable activities for the client while in their care. Respite providers also must be able to quickly understand the client’s personality and possible medical issues.

Regardless of the tough job, they don’t hesitate to help. Respite providers do such a good job making respite fun that some clients get excited and consider their stay a “mini vacation!” These care providers are very dedicated, bighearted and essential to the success of the MR program.

Thank you to all of our Respite Providers!