Leaving the kids and home- all the information caregivers need

Respite is essential, but the term is often used when it is a caregiver of someone with special needs takes a much needed break. Though all these tips can be used for ANYONE leaving their children for a trip, there is an overshare of info included in here to help make the change as smooth as possible for the special needs individual (which often includes extra medical needs).

Medical release & Info

Medicine. This makes me the most nervous. We (Nolan) use a lot and I know it can be tricky, but it is also scary to miss a dose or give a wrong medicines. It can be tough to navigate, especially if you aren’t used to all the different types, amounts, and times. I broke it down for a simple checklist by day for our caregivers.

We color code tops of medicine bottles, describe what it looks like in the syringe, and then the amount to have a couple checks and balances.

Schedule

Look at what you do in a day, and write it down. Write down the times, the items needed in that place, and I even wrote down little details that help things run smoother (who put in the car first, who can do what themselves, etc).

I color code my kids in my notes so that they can see what each kid is supposed to be doing at that time.

School, bus, therapy, etc schedules. Tell teacher names, contact information, what is needed at each site, when masks are required for parents, etc.

Plan for calling a kid in sick, a quarantine (during covid), etc.

Post it Tips

I put post it notes in all the locations for little tips. How to use tricky appliances, where certain things are stored, and color coded notes for kids (matching colors in the schedule). Medicine was also on post it notes.