TITLE:
Therapeutic Camps and Their Impact on the Family of Children with Special Health Care Needs: A Mixed Method Study
AUTHORS:
Brandi Lindsey
KEYWORDS:
Respite Care, Special Needs, Children, Therapeutic Camps
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.6 No.9,
September
19,
2016
ABSTRACT: Respite care through therapeutic summer day camps is a service used to relieve the physical and mental strains placed on caregivers of children with special health care needs while also creating unique opportunities to benefit the child. The purpose of this study is to determine how respite care in the form of a therapeutic summer day camp for children with special needs impacts a family’s ability to manage their child’s special health care needs within their family. This research study used mixed methodology combining quantitative data collection through pre- and post-survey and qualitative data collection through interviews that worked to answer questions relating to the effects of a therapeutic summer day camp on parents’ perspective and management of their child’s condition. The theoretical framework used to guide the study is the Family Management Style Framework. Twenty-two parents completed The Family Management Measure that was administered prior to and at the conclusion of an 8-week therapeutic summer day camp program. Qualitative interviews with 11 parents helped to better understand specific interventions and experiences of the therapeutic camp that benefitted their child and family. Although the quantitative analysis did not yield statistically significant changes in the family’s ability to manage their child’s condition as a result of attendance at the camp, the qualitative interviews demonstrated robust evidence that the camp provided meaningful experiences for the campers and parents while alleviating stress within the family. Themes include: 1) Family-Child themes of loss of normalcy, relationships affected, increased stress, family adaptations, and love for the child; 2) Camp-Child themes of meeting individual needs, creating happiness, and behavior changes; and (3) Camp-Parent themes of improved perception of the child, decreased stress, parent involvement with staff, and need for specific environment at camp. Implications of the results are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.