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Respite Services
Respite
Services provide highly trained home companions for people Caring for
a family member, with a developmental disability. Companions work in people’s
homes and in varied community settings serving families in Santa Clara,
San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, & San Benito counties.
Contact the Respite Program
Clients
Our compassionate Home Companions
give respite to parents and other primary care givers of people with developmental
disabilities of all ages. Abilities United has been providing quality
respite services to clients throughout the Bay Area for over 25 years.
Our companions are able to assist with appropriate medical referrals but
are not trained to meet many medical needs.
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Services
You have specific concerns and
needs for care and our respite services are tailored to provide what you
desire. Typically, Abilities United’s Respite care includes feeding,
toileting, bathing, dressing, companionship on outings (with and without
the family), and assisting with independent living skills, as well as
other tasks associated with a your son or daughter’s individual education
plan or service plan. Abilities United’s approach to respite is:
- Family Centered: We aim to strengthen and work seamlessly with your
family, and we encourage our Home Companions to participate in community
activities with your child and your family.
- Creative and Inclusive: We support and inspire our Home Companions
to engage in a wide range of activities with your child such as swimming
at the community pool or joining a peer recreation group.
- Culturally Sensitive: We honor your customs and try to accommodate
your primary language by matching you with the most compatible Home
Companion available.
- Highly Professional: We adhere to a rigorous training regimen which
includes 30 hours of First Aid and CPR classroom work. We also check
references, fingerprint, and obtain DMV records on all our companions.
A strict code of conduct is enforced and we regularly monitor client
satisfaction.
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Results
Abilities United is one of
the few programs in the area that provides extensive training for its
Home Companions, a crucial component for providing quality services for
your family. Respite can be the difference between your family staying
together as a healthy and functioning whole in the community, or breaking
apart and turning to institutional care, often outside of the community.
Our Respite Program can be an important support for your family and gives
you the flexibility to respond to family emergencies. In addition, you
will enjoy the peace of mind associated with quality in-home care as you
use our services to maintain balance in your lives. We give you the freedom
to take some time to sit down to a quiet dinner or indulge in a much needed
vacation.
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How
To Get Started
- Notify your Service Coordinator (S.C.) at the Regional Center that
you would like to sign up with the Home Companion Program at Abilities United.
- The S.C. will call the Respite Program Manager with the referral,
or you can call the Respite Program directly to fill out an intake form.
- If you are using another program, tell your S. C. to switch your hours
over to Abilities United.
- Call the Respite Program to schedule a Home Visit with you to meet
you and your child.
- You will receive a packet of paperwork to be completed. This includes
a Physicians Report that must be returned to the office before service
can start.
- Service can begin when the paperwork and the Authorization are complete.
- A Companion will contact you to set up an hour long interview ( which
uses one hour of your respite), or set up a regular schedule of service.
The family can choose to use this Companion, more than one Companion
( if available at the time), or a different Companionr. We make every
attempt to find someone that meets the families' choices.
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Program
Schedule
The Respite Program is offered
to clients and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks
a year. However, prior authorization is needed from Abilities United
for services provided on Abilities United observed holidays which are
as follows:
Abilities United
Holiday Schedule 2007 - 2008
-
| Thanksgiving Break |
November 22 - 23, 2007 |
|
Winter Break |
December 25, 2007 |
|
New Years Day |
January 1, 2008 |
| Martin Luther King |
January 21, 2008 |
| Presidents Day |
February 18, 2008 |
|
Memorial
Day |
May 26, 2008 |
| Independence Day |
July 4, 2008 |
| Labor Day |
September 1, 2008 |
| Veteran's Day |
November
11, 2008 |
| Thanksgiving Break |
November 26-27, 2008 |
| Winter Break |
December 25, 2008 |
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Contact
For more
information on our San Mateo and Santa Clara Respite Services Program,
call: (650) 618-3317 or
Email Respite
Additional resources
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