This study examined summer camps for children with chronic illnesses as a source of respite care for mothers. Mothers of children with asthma, cancer, epilepsy, or kidney disorders (N = 161) completed 4 structured telephone interviews (before, during, and twice after camp) measuring caregiving demands and general psychological distress. Caregiving demands were relieved during camp, returning to pre-camp levels once the child returned home. Mothers' general psychological functioning improved while children were at camp, with the maintenance of some changes lasting up to 1 month after camp. As respite care by definition provides temporary relief from caregiving demands, summer camps for children with chronic illnesses can be conceptualized as respite care providers.
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Meltzer et al. (2004) studied this question.
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