Letters: Respite is a lifesaver for caregivers

Respite is a cost-effective service that enables families to keep loved ones at home, where we want to keep them and where they want to be. It is so important and necessary for the many families who are 24/7 caregivers of special-needs loved ones. This includes a parent or child who has a disability, mental or emotional disorder and/or chronic illness.

Without respite, caregivers suffer from burn-out, and their own health declines. If the caregiver burns out or becomes ill, the family member usually has to be institutionalized, and many families can’t afford the care their family members truly deserve. While some families can pay for respite care, many more cannot. With help from Director Susan Robinson and her staff at S.C. Respite Coalition, we can continue to care for our loved ones while ensuring that we don’t neglect ourselves.

There is funding in the state budget for respite care, and I hope the Legislature will keep it there.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Letters: Respite is a lifesaver for caregivers."