Having caregivers in our home is something that I have had experience with since my 6 year old son Lincoln came home from the hospital. Lincoln, who has Treacher Collins syndrome, was born prematurely at 32 weeks and spent his first six months in hospital and we have since had home care assisting us in caring for our medically-fragile child.
With Self Managed Care, I feel a lot more comfortable being able to meet potential caregivers before they come into our home. You lose a whole lot of privacy when a caregiver lives in your home and it is a very important decision to make, ensuring that they are going to be a fit for your child. Your initial gut feeling is so important, and we have been fortunate to have built long-term relationships and a support system with our caregivers, having them care for Lincoln for 5 and 6 years.
In offering advice to other families who are considering Self Managed Care, I want them to know that there is a wonderfully supportive community that you can reach out to. Although it may seem scary and overwhelming at the start, know that there are people there to help, especially your case manager.