Mrs. G., a single parent who is 70 years old, needed to have surgery. Unable to provide care for her daughter, who is in a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy, Mrs. G. was in critical need of services for the specialized care her daughter required. Mrs. G. contacted The Respite Inn, and her daughter stayed at The Inn for 2 weeks while Mrs G. recovered from her surgery.

Mr. C. recently lost his wife from a tragic car accident. Providing care for his daughter who has autism while at the same time grieving his wife's death seemed too much to bear. Mr. C's daughter now comes to The Respite Inn every other weekend. This gives Mr. C. time to recuperate and attend to his personal needs.

The Respite Inn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency located in Concord, CA. The Respite Inn is a unique service providing out-of-home respite and emergency services to adults with developmental disabilities since 1990. Since opening in 1990, The Respite Inn has served over 700 individuals throughout Northern California and requests for this service continue to grow. Guests stay at the Inn from one to twenty-one days at a time. The peaceful one-acre setting is ideal for the bed and breakfast model in creating a comfortable wellness approach to specialized care.

The purpose of the services of The Respite Inn is to support families in their commitment to maintain their family member with developmental disabilities in their own home, by giving them periodic breaks from caretaking responsibilities. The Respite Inn also enhances the life quality of adults with developmental disabilities by providing the opportunity to experience a more independent living situation outside the home, and providing enriching life experiences in the community as well as the opportunity to develop friendships with peers.

The Respite Inn was designed to provide families with needed time away from the constant care of a family member who has a developmental disability, thus strengthening family bonds. The Respite Inn also provides an opportunity for individuals who have a developmental disability to explore life away from home, while fostering and preparing them for the future.