Supervise |
No safety measures compare to proving one-on-one supervision for a child at risk for wandering, but this kind of care can be emotionally and physically draining for the primary caregiver. Caregivers can request assistance from the child's school and/or receive respite care through the county boards of developmental disabilities.
| Communication is CriticalCommunication between caregivers is absolutely critical to ensuring the safety of a child who is prone to wandering. Use a "Tag, you're it" system (especially during large gatherings) to ensure that the adult who is supervising the child knows he or she is responsible. Other Respite OptionsBay Presbyterian Church offers free quarterly respite events. Camp Cheerful offers respite weekends once a month from September through April. There is a cost associated with this program but waivers may be used to cover it. North Olmsted Assembly of God offers quarterly free respite for special needs children and their siblings. Medicaid and RespiteMedicaid waivers are often used to cover the costs of respite care; however, the waiting lists for these waivers are often many years long. If you have a child with a disability who may need respite care throughout his or her life, you should contact your county board of developmental disabilities as early as possible to enroll and be added to the waiting lists. |
Back to caregiver guide |