RESPITE HOUSE

OSHKOSH ADDRESS: 1325 Eastman Oshkosh, WI 54901

WAUTOMA ADDRESS: 402 East Division Street Wautoma, WI 54982

WHAT IS RESPITE?  Respite Care is short-term care for an individual with a disability. It gives the primary caretaker a break from the 24-hour a day, 7 days a week routine. The care is individualized to the participant. We provide the level of care that the individual needs. This can include personal cares such as bathing, toileting, feeding (including tube feedings) and medication administration.

HISTORY  Since 1975 Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin has been providing out of home respite care. We started by doing 16 weekends a year for 51 hours and 16 individuals at a time. In 1995 Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin built the first freestanding respite house in Wisconsin in Oshkosh. This expanded the amount of respite care services that can be offered to 7 days a week 24 hours a day. 2005 brought another expansion in the out of home respite care services Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin could provide. We have opened (another freestanding) respite house in Wautoma. Each facility is dually licensed as a Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) and Group Child Foster Care. This means we are able to provide service to those age 2 and above. We are able to have 16 individuals stay during the day and 8 individuals stay overnight at each facility. The bonds created between staff and the individuals served at the Respite House and Wautoma House are more than friendship, it is like family.

 

ABOUT THE STAFF  The Respite Care Coordinators, who are registered nurses, oversee the two homes. Staff is trained to be a knowledgeable and capable team member. Training includes: Training Number of Hours Consumer Rights 8 Consumer Specific 8 Challenging Behavior 8 Needs Assessment 8 Medication Administration 8 Dietary Needs 3 First Aid and Choking 4 Standard Precautions/OSHA 3 Fire Safety 6 CPR 3 Care Determination 4 Caregiver Law 4 Nonviolent Crisis Intervention 6 Upon completion of the above training the next calendar year staff will receive 24 hours of in-service training. We collaborate with agencies and schools to enable persons to have the opportunity to volunteer and work with the individuals at the Respite House. This provides for some 1:1 interaction that benefits staff, the volunteer, and the individual by providing positive interaction so all can expand their interpersonal relationship skills.

 

HOW DOES RESPITE HELP FAMILIES?  Respite Care enables the family to take a break from the 24 hour, 7 days a week care of a family member with a disability and helps to reduce family stress. Some comments about what families have been able to do are: "It's great for the parents and the child. They do so many activities and just the attention they get at the Respite House is great. We don't always have that time at home for them. My daughter hates to be left alone." A mother of a 16 year old. "Take a shower without interruption." A mother of a 14 year old. "Spend time renewing my relationship with my husband." A mother of a 9 year old. Take my other children to Wisconsin Dells and not worry about wheelchair accessibility." A mother of a 18 year old.

 

HOW DOES RESPITE HELP THE INDIVIDUAL  Respite Care attendance helps reduce the fear and isolation for the individual. The individual is able to be involved in the community by participating in such events as: bowling, swimming, museums, zoos, parks, dances, etc. Parents have reported increased socialization through the use of our Respite Care Program.

FEES AND DAYS AVAILABLE There is a fee for this program. We work with the families to get the type of respite stay that is needed, whether it is for a few hours, a weekend, a week long, extended stays or emergency stays. Contact the Respite Coordinator at (920) 424-4073 or 800-261-1895 for more information on setting up your stay. Tours are available of both the Respite House in Oshkosh or the Wautoma House and we encourage the families to tour our facilities before using so they can get a feel of the atmosphere.