Health Law

Caregivers Often Don't Get Relief They Need

Caring for a child with cerebral palsy or other special needs condition isn’t always easy, and often requires the use of complex technology and the management of multiple medications. Given the demands they generally face on a day-to-day basis, it is not uncommon for caregivers to neglect themselves.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that support systems are in position to help caregivers of special needs children, and respite care is a type of help for caregivers that provides them with temporary relief from their duties.

Yet a new study suggests that nearly one quarter of caregivers for special needs children do not receive the respite care they need and deserve.

"These parents have to go through so much. They do it with a lot of love. But caregiving is not an easy task, and families need help caring for their children with special needs," said Dr. Savithri Nageswaran, lead researcher of the study.

Reasons cited for unmet respite care needs include:

• Lack of services available
• Transportation issues
• High cost

Lack of awareness of support services

The study also showed that caregivers of children with severe functional limitations and unstable health conditions had greater unmet needs than caregivers of children in stable health and without functional limitations.

If you are a caregiver to a child with cerebral palsy or other special needs, it’s important to understand that help is available. Check out our cerebral palsy resources page for more information.






 

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on February 14, 2009 (boomark / email).