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Respite
Care is considered a pioneering institution in Greece although
such centres have been successfully operating in the rest of
the EU countries as an indispensable service in the field of
special education.
Zoodohos
Pigi has already set up such a framework of semiautonomous living
to meet the needs of persons with learning difficulties and
autism. Such persons are enabled to live life away from their
homes and to take part in everyday social activities.
This
service fills a great gap, since, up until now, there were no
such centres where a client and his/her family could:
Accomplish
his/her social and therapeutic training that will help
towards his/her social integration and autonomy.
The family can trust their child in an hour of need
(e.g. parents becoming ill and temporarily unable to look
after their child, an out of town commitment etc.)
The centre will prepare the person for autonomous or
semiautonomous living.
AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES
Aiming
at the improvement of quality of life of the client and his/her
family, Zoodohos Pigi Respite Care have set the following objectives:
Family
support
Social skills training and self development of client.
Gradual emancipation from his/her family.
Preparation towards lifelong autonomous or semiautonomous
living in a familiar and family-structured environment.
OPERATION
A
committee sets up small groups of 3-4 each, comprised of clients
who have been accepted into the Respite Care programme and have
similar interests.
Stay
at the centre is periodical (each group spends a week) and after
8-10 weeks all groups have stayed at the centre which accommodates
about 40 clients.
There
is always one spare bed in case of an emergency stay.
FACILITIES
The
centre is housed in a rented detached spacious apartment, situated
in the centre of Heraklion.
The
clients have easy access to all amenities in the city, such as
cinemas, concerts, restaurants, cafes etc.
STAFF
Our
staff is continuously trained for the demands of this service
by means of seminars held by specialized trainers from the U.K
and also field practice abroad. Day schedule includes 2 trainers
(sometimes 3, depending on the client group) and a centre manager,
out of a total of 6 members of staff. Supervision is carried
out in shifts with one member of staff awake through the night.
DAY-TO-DAY
SCHEDULE
During
his/her stay at the centre, a client attends his/her classes
at the day centre or the school during the day. Afternoon activities
include horse-riding, swimming, cinema, theatre or any other
activity the client prefers (walks, shopping, cafes etc.).
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