What Happens When You Can No Longer Care for Your Mentally Disabled Child?
Caring for children is a full-time job; however, when a child is mentally disabled, parents must provide 24-hour attention. This is not realistic for some families, especially single-parent households or situations where both parents work. Fortunately, parents of mentally disabled children have several options when they feel unable to care for their child.
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Paid Care
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One option that parents can consider when they are no longer able to care for their mentally disabled child is a private home or institution. Many such facilities charge weekly or monthly fees for care, depending on the services provided.
An example of such a home is the Easy K Ranch in Sage, Arkansas, a home that serves mentally disabled children, teens and adults who are physically or mentally handicapped. They are a nonprofit organization that designs specific programs for each individual to help him foster a sense of independence.
Medicaid Assistance
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According to the Arc (Association for Retarded Citizens), Medicaid is the largest provider of health care services for disabled persons in the United States. Families who take advantage of these services may choose long-term institutional care for their child or opt for the Community First Choice Option, which focuses on providing care through the community. If a person is unable to care for her child, she may be eligible for institutional or in-home care that is paid for by her insurance.
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Organizations for Mentally Disabled Children
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There are many organizations devoted to assisting the families of people with mental disabilities. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a mental health advocacy organization that offers people a variety of resources for assistance with their mentally disabled child from information on treatment options to avenues for connecting with other families of mentally handicapped kids.
The AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) provides assistance for families including medical education, resource centers for a variety of mental disorders and online access to local and national support programs. Parents can connect to these organizations and get more information about their options when they feel unable to care for their child.
In-Home Care and Sitters
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Another option that allows a mentally disabled child to stay in her home is a caregiver or sitter. Caregivers can be found in a variety of ways from posting advertisements on job boards such as Craig's List to contacting local companies that specialize in caregiver services. They may provide a range of duties from bathing the child to teaching him vital life skills. One such organization, Child Serve, which is located in Johnston, Iowa, offers home care services that include hourly visits by skilled nurses, physical therapy, occupational therapy and in-home family education.
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