Respite Care for Caregivers in Colorado Springs
Respite Care for Caregivers in Colorado Springs: You Cannot Pour from an Empty Cup
Caring for a child or loved one with a disability is one of the most profound, demanding, and love-filled things a person can do. It requires your attention, your patience, your energy, and your heart — every single day, often without a pause.
And it takes a toll.
Caregiver burnout is not a personal failure. It is a predictable, well-documented response to the sustained, high-stakes work of supporting someone who depends on you completely. It affects physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and — critically — the quality of care you are able to provide.
At Zach’s Place at the Laurie Hillyard Family Center in Colorado Springs, we have supported families through exactly this reality since 1998. Respite care is not a luxury we offer — it is a lifeline we have built our mission around.
What Is Caregiver Burnout — and Why Does It Happen?
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that develops when a caregiver does not receive adequate support or relief over time. It is more common among caregivers of individuals with disabilities than in almost any other caregiving context — because the demands are often higher, the breaks are fewer, and the support systems are harder to find.
The signs of caregiver burnout include:
- Persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities you once enjoyed
- Feeling hopeless, helpless, or resentful — emotions that then generate guilt
- Declining physical health: more frequent illness, headaches, difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Emotional numbness or increased irritability toward the person in your care
If any of these feel familiar, you are not alone — and you are not failing. You are a caregiver who needs support, just like the person you care for.
Why Respite Care Is Not Selfish — It Is Essential
Many caregivers resist asking for help. There is often a quiet, persistent voice that says: if I need a break, I must not love them enough. That voice is wrong.
Respite care — planned, temporary relief for caregivers — has been shown to:
- Reduce caregiver stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Improve the quality of care provided to the individual with a disability
- Strengthen family relationships by reducing tension and resentment
- Allow caregivers to maintain employment, health appointments, and personal relationships
- Extend the length of time a caregiver can sustainably provide care at home
Taking a break is not abandoning your loved one. It is preserving your ability to be there for them — not just today, but for the months and years ahead.
How Zach’s Place Provides Respite Care in Colorado Springs
Zach’s Place is a licensed nonprofit child care and respite center serving children with disabilities and their families in the Pikes Peak Region. We provide care for children ages 2.5–18, and we have been doing it continuously since 1998.
Our respite services give caregivers real, meaningful time away — knowing their child is in the hands of trained, compassionate staff who understand how to provide individualized support in a safe, structured, and enriching environment.
What Happens While You’re Away
While you take the break you need, your child is not simply being watched — they are being cared for in the full sense of the word. A typical session at Zach’s Place might include:
- Structured activities and creative play tailored to your child’s interests and needs
- Life skills practice — meal preparation, personal hygiene, cooperative activities
- Outdoor time, physical movement, and sensory-friendly environments
- Social interaction with peers in our inclusive classroom setting
- Community outings to Colorado Springs destinations like the YMCA, Garden of the Gods, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Participation in our Gardens Grow therapeutic gardening program
Children who attend Zach’s Place regularly do not just tolerate their time there — they look forward to it. That matters, because it matters to you.
Flexible Scheduling Built Around Real Family Needs
Respite care is only useful if it actually fits into a caregiver’s life. We offer:
- Weekend care for caregivers who work, have appointments, or simply need time
- Before- and after-school care to support working caregivers during the school year
- Summer programming to bridge the long gap when school is out
- Full-day and part-day scheduling options
Our doors are open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. For families who need weekend respite, we encourage you to contact us directly to discuss availability.
Trained Staff Who Understand Your Child
Every member of our team receives specialized training in supporting children with a wide range of disabilities and developmental needs. We have an RN on staff and work closely with families during the intake process to understand each child’s specific needs, communication style, behavioral considerations, and care requirements.
When you leave your child with us, you are not handing them off to a stranger. You are placing them with a team that has taken the time to know them.
Sliding-Fee Scale: Respite Care That’s Accessible to Every Family
One of the most common barriers to respite care is cost. At Zach’s Place, we believe that a family’s financial situation should never determine whether they can access the support they need.
Our sliding-fee scale adjusts the cost of care based on household income. Rates can be as low as $9 per hour for qualifying families — a fraction of what private respite care typically costs in Colorado Springs. Our ability to offer these rates is made possible by the generosity of foundation grants, individual donors, and community sponsors who believe, as we do, that every family deserves support.
No family is ever turned away from Zach’s Place because of an inability to pay.
A Note to Caregivers Who Are Struggling Right Now
If you are reading this from a place of exhaustion — if the weight of what you carry has become genuinely hard to hold — please know that reaching out is not weakness. It is the act of a caregiver who loves someone enough to recognize that they need to take care of themselves too.
Zach’s Place has walked alongside Colorado Springs families in exactly your position for more than 25 years. We understand the complexity, the love, and the weight of what you carry. And we are here.
Contact Zach’s Place to Learn More About Respite Services
If you are a caregiver in Colorado Springs caring for a child with a disability, we invite you to call us, schedule a visit, or simply reach out to have a conversation about what support might look like for your family. There is no obligation — just a team of people who want to help.
📞 Call us: 719-447-8983 | 📍 4795 Granby Cir, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
FAQs about SKSF Child Care in Colorado Springs
Yes. Zach’s Place offers flexible short-term child care options for families visiting Colorado Springs or needing temporary support. Availability depends on scheduling and enrollment requirements, so we encourage families to contact us in advance.
Yes. Our staff are trained to support children with diverse developmental needs in a structured, nurturing environment. We encourage families to share specific care details during enrollment discussions so we can ensure the best experience.
A preschool day includes structured learning, creative expression through art and music, outdoor play, life-skills development, and social engagement. Activities are designed to support cognitive, emotional, and physical development in a nurturing environment.
Zach’s Place operates on a sliding-fee scale based on household income, which means costs are adjusted to reflect what your family can realistically afford. Rates can be as low as $9 per hour for qualifying families. To find out what rate applies to your family, contact us to schedule an intake assessment — we’ll walk you through everything in a private, no-pressure conversation.
How can I choose the right special needs child care or respite service provider in Colorado Springs?
When selecting a provider in Colorado Springs, consider factors such as licensing status, staff qualifications, program offerings tailored to your child’s specific needs, and the availability of personalized care plans. Evaluating providers like Zach’s Place at The Laurie Hillyard Family Center can ensure high-quality care that supports your child’s development effectively.
Inclusive child care programs in Colorado Springs are supported by key laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Head Start Act. These legislations ensure equal access to education and childcare services for children with disabilities and mandate the establishment and maintenance of inclusive practices within local childcare settings.
Respite care at Zach’s Place can be used on a recurring basis — weekly, several times a week, or on a schedule that works for your family. We work with families to build arrangements that provide consistent, reliable relief. Regular respite has been shown to be significantly more effective at preventing burnout than occasional or emergency-only use, so we encourage families to think of it as an ongoing support rather than a last resort.
Yes. Zach’s Place is a licensed Universal Pre-K (UPK) provider. Eligible families can receive up to 15 hours of free, high-quality preschool per week in the year before kindergarten. Some families qualify for additional hours depending on income and other factors. Contact us to check your eligibility.
Zach’s Place serves children ages 2.5–18 with a wide range of disabilities and developmental needs, including autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more. We also welcome typically developing children in our inclusive setting. The best way to find out if we’re a good fit is to schedule a tour and intake conversation — we’ll learn about your child’s specific needs and be honest about how we can support them.
Enrollment is easy. Complete an application at sksfcolorado.org, then gather your child’s current shot records and a recent physical. We’ll schedule a site visit and intake assessment to get to know your child and make sure we’re a great fit. We encourage families to apply early — spaces fill quickly, especially for UPK-eligible children.
