Respite House

Respite House is licensed to provide low-to-moderate level of care in a comfortable home-like setting. Respite House features a kitchen, dining area, living room, three bedrooms and a large bathroom. The house is completely accessible and beautifully furnished (see pictures). Here, respite care is provided by our CarePartners Two staff. Volunteers also help with things like meals and recreational activities. Respite care is available for a few hours or overnight. The full cost for respite care at Respite House is $13.00 per hour.

The business office of Range Respite is in the downstairs area of Respite House.

The Miraculous Story of Respite House

Respite House 2000 is a home in Virginia built exclusively to provide respite for family caregivers.

Our dream had been to have a "respite house" one day, but that was in our long range plans - perhaps 20 years down the road. However, in the spring of 1996, we learned that USX Corporation, Minntac, had bought several homes in the Parkville community in order to expand their buffer zone for blasting.

We approached Minntac representatives and explained our vision. They offered us our choice of the available homes free of charge. All we had to do was move it!

A couple of months later we approached the city of Virginia and asked for the donation of two city lots on which we could put the donated house. That was approved by the city council, and for about two years we worked on gathering funds to move the house from Parkville to Virginia, build a basement, and renovate the house to make it accessible to everyone.

One of the most memorable and exciting days in the history of Range Respite is the day the house was moved - January 20, 1998. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 28, 1998, and work began in earnest on the first program of its kind in northern Minnesota.

In keeping with our philosophy of learning from family caregivers, we invited a group of parent caregivers and professionals who worked with children who have special needs to help us design the respite house interior and program. Over several months, the needs and desires of families brought together a wonderful plan for all ages.

For nationally-publicized Make A Difference Day in 1999, we creatively used "Range Respite" and "Respite House" as the "bride" and "groom" in the wedding registries of the Target and Herberger's stores. Community members generously donated every single item on both registries! We received the donations on Saturday, October 23rd, and gave tours of the house while people visited and enjoyed a cup of coffee. Though still unfinished, the community members could see our vision and joined in our excitement for the future.

The respite house has experienced community-wide support from the beginning. After the donation of the building and the land, we received contributions and grants from many sources. Volunteers worked in the mud and in the snow, inside and outside, in the basement and on the roof. When we needed a plumber, one showed up and asked if he could help; when we needed a licensed electrician, a volunteer asked his friend to come help; when we needed a painter, two professional house painters arrived.

Respite House 2000 Renovation Crew & recipients of the Northland Volunteer Council's 2001 Hall Of Fame Award. From Left to Right: Bill Dale, Art Abramson, Ken Carter, Harry Kuitunen, & Rod Anderson

Five volunteers formed the core group in the multi-year respite house project: Art Abramson, Rod Anderson, Ken Carter, Bill Dale, and Harry Kuitunen. These men gave of their time and energy from the first day through the completion of the project. Nominated as "The Respite House 2000 Renovation Crew", they received the Northland Volunteer Council's 2001 Hall of Fame Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service. These five men gave over 5,500 of the 10,000 total volunteer hours invested in the project. None of them volunteered in order to receive honor and recognition, but it was wonderful to see them receive the award. Later that summer at the Minnesota State Fair, Ken Carter, renovation crew supervisor, was one of only 13 people within the state recognized and honored with a Governor's Citizen Award for Acts of Kindness.

Respite House 2000 is often described as "warm and sunny" and "so homey" - tributes we appreciate, because that was our goal. Coming from backgrounds as family caregivers ourselves, we wanted a place that is comfortable and inviting to those who will be our guests.

During the summer of 2001, we welcomed our first guest to Respite House 2000. Since that time many families have brought their loved ones to the respite house for care while they have attended reunions or family celebrations, gone on fishing or hunting trips, or enjoyed vacations. One family caregiver painted her house, and another attended her son's tournaments.

You may have noticed that we refer to the people for whom we care as "respite guests". They are guests at Camp JOEY, and they are guests at Respite House 2000. We treat them as our guests and try to make their stays as pleasant as possible. Knowing this, family caregivers are able to enjoy their time off even more.

Here are some pictures of the inside of Respite House. Placing your mouse over the picture will give you a description of the area you are viewing.