Respite Care

St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children is a recognized leader in complex medical and intensive rehabilitative care for children with special needs. Through our Respite Program we are able to offer families our unique care for short periods of time. By providing professional and nurturing services, St. Mary’s encourages parents to take short-term breaks, safe in the knowledge that they are leaving their children in capable, dependable hands.

Programs and Services We Offer
Families who receive respite care through our home care and inpatient programs are residents of all boroughs of New York City and Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. Their children have complex medical conditions that include:

		Specialized skilled nursing			Specialized on-site school
		Recreational activities			Dietary and nutritional care
		Full-time staff physicians Social work			Complementary care/integrative medicine
					Pastoral care Pediatric/adolescent medicine
		Parent education
		Subspecialty care			Rehabilitation services

Important Information for Parents.
This program is in high demand and we recommend advance requests. A waiting list is maintained.

Admission for last minute requests is based on availability.

Eligibility
Respite care is available for children with a variety of complex medical conditions from birth to 18 years of age. The New York State Department of Health has strict eligibility regulations for this program; please contact our admissions office for more information and we will help to determine if a child qualifies for the program.