Newsmakers: Crescent Cove Provides ‘Special Place’ for Families in Trying Times
Crescent Cove’s new executive director, Mary Gaasch, says its respite center continues to be busy, helping families with hospice care for children.
“Crescent Cove is a wonderful place that offers respite and hospice care for children with shortened life expectancies,” said Gaasch. “We welcome children and families from all over to give care and support for them.”
Families can receive up to 15 days of care a year free of charge. Gaasch says as the children are cared for, and families can get “a little bit of a break.” This can be a vacation, or it can be as simple as allowing a family to carve out time for a nap or to spend time with other children.
Crescent Cove is located in Brooklyn Center on Twin Lakes.
“There are native gardens, there’s rescue horses, and there’s therapy dogs and lots of fun, and joy in that community and I’m grateful to be a part of that story,” said Gaasch.
This summer Crescent Cove hosted a siblings camp.
“The siblings of children who have medically complex conditions have a really hard time sharing what their life experiences are like with their peers,” said Gaasch.
Siblings get to go on boat rides and have fun at camp while connecting with one another.
“It’s a special place where they feel at home and we are delighted to give them that experience.”
Gaasch says there are only three centers like Crescent Cove in the nation and Crescent Cove is the only location like this in Midwest.
“If we could adequately serve all families of this kind with respite care, just in the metro area alone, we’d have 72 beds a day but right now we only have five,” said Gaasch.
The organization continues to brainstorm and find other ways to serve more families.
If you’d like to learn more about Crescent Cove, visit its website at www.crescentcove.org
See also: Crescent Cove Hospice Care for Kids Marks Fifth-Year Anniversary
