This study explored the relationship between four types of autonomy (health autonomy, informational autonomy, living autonomy, and financial autonomy) and the acceptance of five types of long-term care (adult day care, respite care, assisted living, unit care, and group home) for the elderly in Taiwan. Data were collected from 167 middle-aged and…

Numerous studies have investigated the benefits of respite to families with a disabled child. Far fewer have examined the effects on the child and none have systematically compared information about this from different sources. Reports of behavioural reactions and views on distress were gathered from parents, teachers and respite staff. Children…

The purpose of this paper is to review intervention research to determine the types of family support that are reported and evaluated in early childhood. This review includes 26 articles evaluating (a) parent training programs; (b) general family-centered practice models which offer comprehensive supports; (c) peer support; (d) two-generation…

Background: As part of an international, multicentre project, the service and support needs of Australian family carers were investigated. Method: A sample of 1,390, 448 family carers completed a self-report survey, including an adaptation of the Family Needs Survey (FNS) and several open-ended questions. A mixed method design was used, employing…

Care managers, including nurses and social workers, often lack information that would help them more effectively target services to caregivers' needs. Useful information includes the type of services that will be most helpful for caregivers and the best time to start using these services. Generally, caregivers are simply told what services they…

Purpose: Although it is widely recognized that caregivers of individuals with dementia experience elevated stress that places them at increased risk for health problems, little is known about how caregiving stress may be alleviated among underserved ethnic minority populations. The purpose of this study was to compare a complementary and…

This guide contains a brief history of the Internet and explains how to connect to the Internet. It then lists Internet addresses of national organizations, federal agencies, and foundations that provide information on children's issues such as disabilities, child abuse, health issues, legislation, and funding opportunities. (CR)

Respite care curriculum content, training approaches, and evaluation strategies are reviewed and evaluated. The need for social and ecological validity in both the content and process of instruction is discussed, as are key elements for training activities. Specific attention is drawn to the need for individualized training and curriculum…

The Kalamazoo (Michigan) Parent Respite Care Co-op enables parents of handicapped children to take a break from the daily care their child requires. (SW)

The mother of a mentally retarded adult emphasizes the need for respite care for families and discusses the changes in education since her daughter was of school age. (CL)

The paper describes the Temporary Care Services program in Massachusetts which provides in-home respite care to families with developmentally delayed children. Events which led to the program's development are reviewed. Respite care is offered in six areas: emergencies, scheduled routine events, social activities, family life, child care for…

The review deals with the impact of stress upon the parents and the siblings of children with intellectual disabilities. The basic proposition expounded is the need for respite care to allow the family to engage in those activities that are part of the experience enjoyed by other families within the community. (Author/CL)

The article traces the initial development of respite care in the 1970s to a variety of creative urban and rural program models found in the United States by the early 1980s. Implications for advocacy, funding, and further research indicate the growing need for and acceptance of this essential family support system. (Author/CL)

A study of respite services for families of persons with developmental disabilities indicated five major problems: inconsistent availability across the state, inconsistent planning and evaluation procedures, inadequate management information systems, lack of information to families, and lack of a career development model for respite workers.…

The authors describe how 3 groups of family caregivers (spouses, daughters, and sons) are affected by the caregiving role. In addition, clinical considerations and interventions for mental health professionals working with these different groups of family caregivers are discussed. A clinical case example is also presented. (Contains 2 tables.)