Southwest Oklahoma caregivers have long faced the same impossible math: there are only so many hours in a day, and all of them seem to go to someone else. This November, that math changes a little. Jen’s Respite Retreat opens in Faxon, offering short-term drop-in care for adults with disabilities or medical conditions, so families in Comanche County can attend a doctor’s appointment, run errands, or simply rest.
The retreat is the work of founder Kerri Stephens, and it carries her sister’s name. Jennifer is 51, has significant intellectual disabilities, and Stephens has credited her as the reason she dedicated her life to caring for others. When Stephens learned Oklahoma had just one respite center in the entire state, Will’s House in Jenks, she visited it, studied its model, and set out to build a second one closer to home. The Faxon facility will run with two on-site volunteers and flexible scheduling built around real family life, not office hours.
An open house is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 10335 SW 82nd St. in Faxon. You can reach the retreat at jensrespiteretreat@gmail.com or (580) 354-2269. Volunteers are needed, and those roles require background checks and CPR certification.
Do you know a caregiver in Lawton or the surrounding communities who could use a few hours of relief? Tell us their story in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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