NCCW Pushes Expanded Respite Care in Diocese

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/25/02)

Three years ago, when Madeline Andressa was the primary caregiver for her husband with Alzheimer’s disease, it would have been a great blessing to have someone stay with him for an hour or two while she went to the grocery store or to an eye doctor’s appointment. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a respite care program in the Fredericksburg area.

The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its RESPITE (REnewal: SPIritual/TEmporal) program. NCCW was a pioneer in training volunteers as companions and providers of non-medical assistance to the sick and elderly. RESPITE gives family members a well-deserved break from non-stop caregiving. "People need an opportunity to refresh their spirits," Andrea Schellman, public relations coordinator at NCCW said.

According to NCCW Executive Director Susan Muskett, the only parishes in the Arlington Diocese with respite care programs are St. Mark Parish in Vienna and St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield. Muskett would like to see the service expand throughout the diocese. "Respite care strengthens parish ties and builds up a faith community," Schellman said. "If a parishioner does not need respite care herself, she may know a neighbor who does need the service."

Parishes interested in starting respite care programs should contact Virginia Berg, president of the Arlington Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at 703/241-1129 or by e-mail at jvaberg@apl.com or Sheila McCarron of NCCW at 202/682-0334. The NCCW will provide its RESPITE Manual as a guide to identifying a need for respite care, choosing a project coordinator, recruiting volunteers, obtaining funding and establishing policy and procedures for volunteers. The manual also provides guidance on planning a training program and suggestions on working with the person in need of care.

Although St. Mark and St. Bernadette parishes have had respite programs for several years, they are often underutilized. Family caregivers may not see notices about respite programs in parish bulletins. They may mistakenly think financial need is a requirement for participation. They may feel guilty about leaving a homebound loved one to go to a movie or to get their hair done.

"Respite is a healthy thing to do," said Sheila McCarron, NCCW program director. She notes women are responsible for 95 percent of caregiving for elderly relatives. Many of these women are sandwiched between responsibilities for elderly parents and for their own children. "They need to give themselves permission" to take a break and admit they cannot do everything themselves, McCarron said.

The NCCW model of respite care ensures volunteers are well trained before they are matched with a person in need of care. A volunteer coordinator may go along on the volunteer’s first visit to a family. It may take several visits to establish trust and confidence among the volunteer, caregiver and person to be cared for. A routine is set where the same volunteer returns on a scheduled day.

McCarron said parish priests who visit the sick, Eucharistic ministers, parish secretaries, bulletin boards and parish Web sites all should be utilized to spread the word about respite services.

Barbara Vogel began St. Mark Parish’s respite care program in 1995. About 100 families were assisted during its first five years. When Vogel retired in 1995, "Jay" Gushee took over its coordination. Currently, St. Mark has 12 volunteers, but only three provide care because of limited demand for services. "It is very rewarding to be able to match people, those with a need and those willing to serve," Gushee said. "Sometimes these relationships can go on for years."

Many people who could benefit from respite care do not take advantage of the services. Gushee said reasons include length and seriousness of illness and, in some cases, unwillingness of the person being cared for to have a stranger in the home. Although demand for services has not been great, "the few volunteers are just gold," Gushee said.

When Sherry Nanna was caring for her mother with terminal cancer, she called Gushee, who provided respite care. Now, Nanna is "giving back" by "sitting with a 96-year-old little lady," freeing the woman’s daughter-in-law to visit her own elderly parents. Nanna, who is a nurse, said respite care is "desperately needed."

"I would like to have the opportunity to do a whole lot more in terms of caregiving," Nanna said.

Daughter of Wisdom Sister Marie Sopr of St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield started home visits to parish shut-ins in 1995. Currently, Mary Ann McLean runs the parish respite care program in which four or five women volunteers give fellow parishioners a break from caring for a sick or disabled loved one.

Both McLean and Sister Marie have cared for terminally ill relatives. "People are very reluctant to let strangers into their homes," McLean said, even though caring for a homebound loved one can be very stressful. "Having been in the situation of caring for a loved one," Sister Marie says, she knows that a caregiver may not feel comfortable leaving a family member with a "stranger" and the loved one may not feel comfortable in a stranger’s care.

Muskett hopes word will get out that respite care volunteers are well trained and provide caregivers with needed "refreshment of the spirit."

The diocesan Office of Elderly Services of Catholic Charities provides a free service in which a social worker will assist families in making decisions about the care of elderly loved ones. The social worker provides an in-home assessment, development of a service plan and referrals to community resources. For information, contact Joyce Hutchins at 703/751-2766.

For information about St. Mark’s respite care program contact Jay Gushee at 703/938-8943 and for information on St. Bernadette’s program call Mary Ann McLean at 703/455-1878.  

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