BOUNTIFUL—A Bountiful man is taking what he’s learned through his own family’s tragedy to help others who might be going through a similar situation. Robert Griffiths opened Living Life Day and Respite Care, a state-licensed program for adults who have a physical disability, the need for assistance with personal care and those who need companionship while their caretaker is away. 

The idea for the facility came to Griffiths when his own son Brett had a tragic accident in 2005. “He was 28 years old, married and had two kids,” said Griffiths. “They were riding motorcycles by the ‘B’ in November so the season was about over. They came down and he told his wife he wanted to run up the hill one last time.”

He crashed and sort of got whiplash with his head going forward then back, Griffiths said. “He started losing blood to the left side of his brain. He was life flighted to the hospital but they made the wrong diagnoses so he went 13 hours with the lack of blood and oxygen to his brain.”

Brett requires 24-hour care and is in a wheelchair, he said. “He can’t talk or walk.”

He was transferred to South Davis Extended Care and lived there for seven years, said Griffiths. “We tried to help him recover as best we could. We all spent time with him.”

After a time, Griffiths said he couldn’t see his son living like that. “I wanted him to be home. The New Choices Waiver Program through Medicaid and the health department made it possible for him to go from a facility and come home. Brett was sort of the poster child for the waiver. He was one of the first ones.”

Brett did so much better at home, he said. “He was more alert, he smiled and interacted when he was around family. We decided we wanted to help other families and show them that they can make it work.”

Griffiths had a construction background so he built Brett’s family an accessible home that had an independent living space for his wife and kids too, he said. “About a year and a half after getting home his wife came to us and asked if we could take him. I understand, she’s young and wanted to move on so they were divorced. She needed a life too.”

Griffiths said they were fortunate to have an aide to care for him during the week while he and his wife worked. “I recently quit my job and with inspiration and love for our son opened Living Life Day and Respite Care.”

Caregivers need a break, he said. “Brett needs a break too and to have things to do and the social aspect. He needed a place to go (for the day).”

The facility has activities like music therapy and art therapy, said Griffiths. “There’s a home theater and Wii that helps with hand eye coordination. Brett can be with others like him.”

Usually in these situations there’s one family member that steps up, he said. “They can get burned out because they don’t get a break. Most abuse comes because the caretaker is worn out.”

The ratio of aides to clients is one to five, he said. “We want them to have a relationship with the same people.” 

A lot of people are trying to take care of their loved ones, said Griffiths. “This is a much needed service. People get frustrated because they don’t know where to go. I can show them that I made it work and you can too.”

The doctors said Brett wouldn’t live and if he did he couldn’t learn, Griffiths said. “He fooled them. He’s learned a lot and he’s still here.”

Living Life Day and Respite Care is located at 1355 N. Main, Suite 10, Bountiful, 801-390-1441. For more information visit https://llathome.com/.