Respite care for families of children with severe handicaps: An evaluation study of parent satisfaction

Abstract

Respite care services provided by foster parents to 68 children with severe handicaps between 1976 and 1979 were systematically studied to determine parent satisfaction. A variety of rest options were made available to the parents of handicapped children for purposes of revitalizing themselves to deal with their child's daily needs. The respite options included short periods of time varying from 2 to 15 consecutive days, i. e., taking a much needed vacation, a week-edn or two a month off, a few days off during the week, or time away from the child due to an emergency. Consumer satisfaction was measured by survey questionnaires developed specifically for respite care and mailed to parents of handicapped children who had used the service. Results indicated that consumer opinion acquired via the follow-up questionnaire method was extremely positive, A most important consideration was to collect data on scheduled intervals about children subsequently receiving care from the same program to determine whether ratings increased or decreased. By focusing on specific respite care activities over time, it was possible to align optimum versus actual satisfaction. Through an analysis of observer variance, the modification of documented weaknesses can decrease the difference between optimum and actual consumer satisfaction levels.