Respite care throws a lifeline to parents of children with intellectual disabilities by giving them the time and space to recharge their batteries. The benefits of such a service are obvious: it enables parents to carry on caring for their child at home by offering temporary relief from the burden of caring. Bernardine Wilkie and Owen Barr report on the findings of a study that sought parents’ views on a respite care service and how it might be developed further

Recent evidence nationally and internationally indicates that the provision of care to people with intellectualdisabilities has shifted from long-stay hospitals to community-based options promoting social inclusion rather than exclusion (Braddock et al 2001, McCormack 2004, Owen 2004). In addition, people with intellectual disabilities enjoy increased longevity as a result of medical and technological advances (Patja et al 2000, National Health Service Scotland 2004). In Ireland, 64 per cent of all people with intellectual disabilities live in a home setting (Kelly et al 2007). Respite care is a key strategy to support them and their caregivers (McConkey et al 2004a, MacDonald et al 2007). However, there is a dearth of information about the unique experiences of parents who use respite services.