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If you’re looking for a Brisbane respite centre for your teenager with a disability, this easy guide might help. Caring for a teenager with a disability is challenging and it’s ok to feel exhausted and to need or want a break. Respite care is not just beneficial for parents and carers but it gives your teenager the opportunity to have some fun away from you with their peers.

Why you need break

As the primary carer of a child or teenager with high support needs you know the complexities of the care that they need. Sometimes it’s challenging to hand over this responsibility even for a very short period. But taking time to care for yourself is essential. If you’re always running on an empty tank things can get on top of you.

Finding help

Finding the right type of respite care will depend on your teenager’s needs and what suits your family. A respite centre like Xavier Place in the Brisbane suburb of Yeerongpilly provides:

• Overnight respite care for short stays
• A chance for your teen to hang out with others their own age
• Staff trained by Registered Nurses and Occupational Therapists
• Registered nurse on-call
• Outings into the local community
• Spaces for quiet time and relaxation

If an overnight respite centre doesn’t suit your child or your family then other types of respite care to consider are:

• A support worker who comes to your home to help you and may stay overnight
• Drop-off day programs at school, health care facilities or other community organisations
• Respite care in another family’s home

Do your research so that you’re able to find the right type of respite care for your child and your family. There is support available if you are feeling overwhelmed, need a break or need to spend some time on other areas of your life like work, study or caring for other family members.

Further information

For further information on Xavier Place Brisbane, short term accommodation and respite for children with complex disabilities, please give us a call on 1800 XAVIER or visit the Xavier Place page.