TIP of the WEEK: The Hardest Decision

There are few things more difficult than questioning whether or not your child needs residential care. Even if you are approved for funding you still need to make a very difficult decision. Here are some things to consider when you are searching for the answers:

How is your family being impacted? If you have other children, are they safe? Can they focus on their own lives? Are you able to maintain your current level of functioning? The impact of a person with PWS who is struggling can have long lasting effects on every member of the family.

Are they learning in school? Our kids have tremendous potential to learn and grow. Is their current school situation appropriate for them? Are they learning new skills or improving their cognitive functioning? If they are not then it may be time to consider a different environment.

Do they have friends or a community outside of their immediate family? I don’t have to stress the importance of this for their happiness and quality of life.

If your child is not able to be successful at home or in school there are options for you nationwide. Going to a residential school where they can learn and grow and have friendships is an option that you should consider if you know that your child has more potential than you are currently seeing in their day to day life.

Patrice Carroll is Latham Centers’ world-renowned Prader-Willi Syndrome specialist. She works with Latham Centers’ residents with PWS, their families and consultants, continuously learning and teaching about PWS best practices.