Enable offers a variety of respite care alternatives. Many individuals with developmental disabilities remain in their homes with their families. These individuals range in age from toddlers to aging adults. The care for these individuals rests on family members or a spouse. Primary caregivers often need time off from providing care. Respite care provides a caregiver an average of 20 hours a month to give the family members time away from this round-the-clock responsibility. This relief enables the caretaker to maintain employment, accomplish routine errands, attend to the needs of other family members or to rest. When Enable provides the Respite Worker, the family’s needs are assessed and a match is made with a Respite Worker. The family and the Worker arranges the times and types of respite care.

Respite options are flexible and responsive to each consumer, offering a variety of formats involving in-home or out of home respite care. Respite care may be provided by an Enable employee or families may receive a monthly stipend to hire their own worker, often an extended family member or a neighbor. Emergency respite care is also available for unanticipated demands on the caregiver in the family.

Our Club Chameleon is offered in six-week sessions on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm. Participants range in age from about 8 years old to young adults. Participants must arrange for their own transportation to the site in West Windsor/Princeton. Staff and trained volunteers supervise participants in arts and crafts, nature walks, or other types of recreation while parents enjoy time off from care giving.

Enable also oversees three family co-operatives in Middlesex and Hunterdon Counties which are lead by designated volunteer parent leaders. These co-operatives have about 50 families involved in group activities that encourage the family members to interact, form supportive relationships and provide respite care for each other’s children.