York County Medicine Winter 2019 - 28

YO R K C O M E D S O C . O R G

IN THE COMMUNITY:

Jessica & Friends

Community Respite Services

A

nyone who has cared for an aging parent knows that
caregiving is demanding work; a labor of love requiring
compassion, patience, understanding, and physical energy.
Caring for an elderly parent is for a season, but caring for a family
member with an intellectual disability or autism often spans the
lifetime of the caregiver. Such a labor of love, while incredibly noble
on the part of the caregiver and absolutely essential for the one
receiving the care, takes its toll on the caregiver, as he/she gives of
himself/herself day in and day out, in sickness and in health.

Sulivan House at
Indian Rock Acres

Planting the flower
pots at Indian
Rock Acres

Family Fun Fest at
Indian Rock Acres

Understanding the long-term work involved in caring for a family
member with special needs and the mental, physical, and emotional
wear and tear that the caregiver incurs, Jessica & Friends Community
offers respite services to give such caregivers a break. Jessica &
Friends Community trusted staff come to a family's own home to
care for a family member with special needs, giving the caregiver and
other family members an opportunity to enjoy some time away from
their regular responsibilities so as to get together with friends or just
enjoy an evening or day away.
One couple takes advantage of Jessica & Friends Community
respite services to have a date night once a month, going out to a
restaurant, movie, or concert. Another family has taken advantage
of our respite services to attend a wedding and special get-togethers
for their friends. Still another family has used our services,
combined with the help of their friends and extended family, to take
a trip outside of the United States for the very first time. By coming
into their home, and staying with their family member with special
needs, the individual is able to remain in the setting he/she is most
comfortable in, and doesn't have to be uprooted from his daily,
familiar routine.
For those parents who may not have the means or interest
in going away for a break, Jessica & Friends Community offers a
convenient and enjoyable local option: family members can stay
at the Sullivan House at Indian Rock acres, a home owned and
operated by Jessica & Friends Community. Here, at no cost to
the family, caregivers can enjoy a relaxed bed and breakfast type
atmosphere and be pampered by the hosts. In addition to the
beautifully restored 1864 brick home and 1791 stone cottage, the
Indian Rock acres property includes 4 Y, acres of wooded land
with a stream, walking path, and swimming pool with an adjacent
pavilion. Many take advantage of the opportunities offered by this
caregiver respite getaway, and have left feeling rested and refreshed in
their soul, body, mind, and spirit, better prepared to return to their
caregiving responsibilities.

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York County Medicine | WINTER 2019
http://www.YORKCOMEDSOC.ORG
York County Medicine Winter 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of York County Medicine Winter 2019
