Ridgeline Pediatric Provides Childcare for Medically Complex Kids

Parents of medically fragile children often face a unique set of challenges when it comes to finding childcare. Not only do these parents need to find someone willing to care for a child with special needs, but that person also needs to be someone who is trained to handle medical emergencies. As a result, many parents of medically complex children become full-time caregivers, which can be emotionally and financially challenging.

Ridgeline Pediatric offers two locations in Redding

Thankfully, a growing number of resources are available locally to help parents of medically fragile children find the support they need. Ridgeline Pediatric, a licensed skilled day health facility for children and adults based in Northern California, now has two locations in Shasta County. The first Redding facility opened on Brittany Drive in 2020, followed by another on Chinook Drive in 2021. These facilities provide medical care for children with disabilities who require more than the services traditional childcare centers can provide.

Ridgeline also has a Transitional Care Unit, where individuals older than 18 can be active in the community through vocational training and also learn life skills while having their medical needs met.

Every parent has the same worries and doubts

Rose Galen, the RN Nurse Administrator for both Redding locations, says Ridgeline works with parents to provide personalized care for their children. She knows how hard it is for parents to leave their medically fragile kids with people they aren’t familiar with. “Every single person that I come in contact with has the same worries and the same doubts. I understand that it takes a minute to trust us,” she says.

Rose explains that many of the families who are hesitant at first gradually learn to trust the care they receive from the staff at Ridgeline Pediatric. These families often become a part of the community, increasing the hours of daycare for their children, some going from a couple of hours here and there to almost daily.

Rose explains that taking the time to listen to the parents’ concerns, how they want their child’s care done, and just ensuring their voices are heard goes a long way in building trust and rapport. She says most parents have the same goals: “That they are safe, that they are happy, that they are loved.”

Rose says a emotional weight often is lifted once families experience a much-needed respite, despite their misgivings about someone else looking after their child. “Once you break that threshold and break through to that parent, you can see the relief on their face when they realize they can have a life (outside of caring for their child).”

Respite for families without local support systems

Single parents and families without local support systems are a significant part of Ridgeline’s clientele. These parents often get overwhelmed with juggling their child’s medical care, work, and caring for other children in the family. Many have not spent time away from their child in years, and some suffer from caregiver burnout.

Ridgeline operates Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm and provides part-time daycare after school and on school breaks, as well as full-time daycare for children and adults who don’t attend a school or need round-the-clock care. Families can also use their services as a supplement to in-home nursing care.

Depending on availability, they also offer overnight respite care for established clients who spend at least 8 hours a week at Ridgeline. The overnights, says Rose, are “ A great opportunity for parents to focus on themselves or the rest of their family while their child is being cared for in a fun, safe place.”

Continuity of care for many services

The Ridgeline locations in Redding are staffed with three licensed vocational nurses who work between the two locations and personal care attendants who are CPR and First Aid certified. If a client needs a nursing level of care, there will be a nurse at that site, and if a child needs specialty care, all staff are trained on the procedures, so everyone is on the same page.

Ridgeline also provides continuity of care for IEP services, private therapy, and behavioral services. Therapists are allowed to provide services onsite; families just need to schedule these with the facility manager.

Many children find it difficult to transition from being at home with their parents to being in a group setting with their peers. The Ridgeline team is experienced in helping families manage change and make transitions smoothly.

Qualified staff who care for a wide range of conditions

Ridgeline staff has cared for kids who have had ostomy procedures, catheters, tracheostomies, portable ventilators, and feeding tubes. They are also able to provide bowel and bladder care, diabetic care, and assistance with the administration of medications including injections. They also work closely with families to ensure that modified diets and food allergies are managed according to their child’s needs.

Ridgeline also partners with the different providers who treat the children at the facilities to work on life skills, IEP services such as speech, and sign language, occupational therapy, and behavioral therapies such as ABA. School-age kids who attend can receive help with homework and other educational activities.

How your child can get services from Ridgeline

Funding through Medi-Cal and state regional centers provides Ridgeline’s services at no cost to families and children who qualify. Private insurance and private pay is also accepted.

The process begins with Rose assessing the child in their home and collecting information from the parents and primary caregivers. From there, a plan of care is coordinated with the child’s doctor and sent off to the state to determine how many hours they would qualify to attend Ridgeline. Then, depending on the client’s needs, Rose decides which Redding location would be the best fit.

Ridgeline is considered a “use it or lose it” resource

Rose says parents of medically complex older kids and teens should know that services like Ridgeline are considered a “use it or lose it” resource. For those who do need specialized medical services, Rose urges them to take advantage of the services Ridgeline has to offer before they turn 21, as funding for skilled nursing services is only available to those who have previously utilized a licensed pediatric skilled nursing facility.

Once they age out of the school system at 21, many disabled adults typically attend adult day service programs, which are an alternative to nursing home care for those who do not need 24-hour skilled nursing.

Ridgeline is a home away from home for the clients they serve, and Rose says the staff strives to provide an environment that is as supportive and nurturing of the parents as it is for the kids.

“It fills our hearts that we’re giving parents the opportunity to go to work, school, and have some time out for some self-care.”

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