MCC nursing students offer respite care day

[cougarnurse]

This was a nice idea! MCC nursing students offer respite care day : localnews : FortMorganTimes.com, Fort Morgan, CO

Morgan Community College nursing students offered a full day of respite care to families caring for special needs family members.

Coincidentally, this was done on the nationally recognized Make a Difference Day on Oct. 25, and indeed these nursing students did make a difference.

Aptly named the Family Recess Program, it is the beginning of what is hoped to be a future of easily accessible respite care opportunities for families of children and young adults who are developmentally and physically disabled.

MCC nursing faculty member Sheri Kembel explained that the MCC nursing students provided temporary care at Sherman School so parents could have a day free of immediate responsibility. Some parents said they went to the movies; others enjoyed dinner at a special restaurant; and others celebrated with a day of relaxation and renewed strength while their children were being cared for by experienced, nurturing medical and behavioral specialists.

The student nurses were under the supervision of a registered nurse for the respite day and all have passed background checks. They first performed an interview with the family and the child to familiarize themselves with the client’s specific needs. Sometimes the interview involved a home visit as well.

The Family Recess Program offered the children, and their siblings in many cases, a day filled with crafts, games and other kinds of recreation. The special needs children were cared for on a one-on-one basis the entire day.

Families are eligible for the respite program if they have a child between the ages of 3 and 21 who has a disability and lives in the family unit. The family must reside in Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington or Yuma counties.

Respite care days are provided by Noertheastern Junior Coillege nursing students in Sterling at the Hagen Early Childhood Center, 301 Hagen St.; or by MCC nursing students in Fort Morgan at the Sherman Early Childhood Center, 300 Sherman St.

Questions and further information can be directed to the Family Recess Program Coordinator Michele Conn by phone at 970-334-2339 or by e-mail at familyrecess@peoplepc.com. Completed applications can be sent to Family Recess Coordinator Michele Conn, P.O. Box 154, Peetz, CO 80747.