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Respite During Covid 19

Respite and Caregiving Resources in the Time of COVID-19

ARCH Voluntary National Respite Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic for providing and using respite safely. See also provider and family decision guides. 

Webinar Release of Voluntary National Respite Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic, July 16, 2020. Watch the Webinar and Download the Presentations.

ARCH Joins National Caregiving  Groups to Issue a Statement on Caregiving Support during COVID-19: "SUPPORT FAMILY CAREGIVERS."

BREAK Exchange Webinar: Preliminary Results of the Supporting Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Survey, June 3, 2020

 

 


COVID-19 Resources for Self-Direction from Applied Self-Direction -

National Caregiving Organization Resources for Caregivers and Providers

Medicaid and Medicare Policy Changes that Affect Caregivers

Government Resources

  • ADvancing States:

National Disability and Aging Organization Resources

Respite Provider and Workforce Issues

Lifespan Respite Network and State Coalition Resources

  • State Respite Coalitions or State Lifespan Respite Programs  During the pandemic, Lifespan Respite grantees and their partners have been a lifeline to family caregivers. They continue to provide respite services when possible through flexible vouchers and reimbursement programs and use creative and meaningful approaches to support and continuously connect to family caregivers. They rapidly adapted innovative respite services and supports to meet isolated family caregiver needs during COVID-19, including regular check-in phone calls, connections to food and basic supports, live Facebook events, online activities to keep care recipients engaged, home-delivered or mailed care packages with activities for caregivers and care recipients, online support groups, stress reduction and self-care webinars, and other virtual respite strategies.

  • Case Studies of Respite Services operating safely during the pandemic.

  • Agape Respite Re-opening Policies and Procedures 

  • Colorado Respite Coalition/Easterseals CO - spreadsheet of resources for family caregivers

  • Respite Care Association of Wisconsin - Finding Your New Normal during COVID-19, Resources, Tips and Tricks - online training for caregivers and providers. 

  • The North Dakota Lifespan Respite Care Program revised its Lifespan Respite Care Service Standards to include changes in eligibility for its planned, unplanned and emergency respite voucher program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes include waiving the requirement that the provider cannot reside in the same household as the care recipient to eliminate concerns about having an individual from outside come into the home; permission to use virtual respite if the health and safety of the care recipient can be assured; making funding available regardless of how much respite the caregiver is receiving from other public funding sources; and increased flexibility in the application process.

  • Illinois Respite Coalition Quarantine Questions - Presentation from the 2020 Lifespan Respite Grantee and Parnter Learning Symposium

  • The Effect of COVID-19 on the NV Rx Lifespan Respite Voucher Program - Presentation from the 2020 Lifespan Respite Grantee and Parnter Learning Symposium. In addition to Nevada, the Colorado Respite Coalition and Virginia's Lifespan Respite Care Program have extended time limits for voucher use to maximize flexibility in meeting family caregiver needs.

  • New Jersey Family Resource Network Guide for Use of PPE

  • New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition - Coronavirus Caregiving Resources 

  • New York - Loneliness Scale tool was added to the NY State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) Statewide Client Data System on April 3, 2020 as part of the comprehensive assessment and in the NY Connects and NY Connects Independent Living Centers (ADRC) workflow paths as additional screening.

  • New York State Office for the Aging and PeerPlace - COVID-19 Form

  • New Mexico Caregivers Coalition  (NMCC)  is participating in the  National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) Coronavirus Care Fund.  NMCC is pre-qualifying its members for individual financial GRANTS  Immediate financial aid ($400 grant) is available to a home care worker, nanny, housecleaner or other frontline healthcare worker who is member of the Coalition. Caregivers--home care workers, personal care attendants, home health aides, nursing attendants, community health workers/representatives (CHWs and CHRs) or family caregivers who have previously attended a formal training of NMCC are eligible to apply.

  • Oklahoma's Lifespan Respite Voucher Program - Presentation from the 2020 Lifespan Respite Grantee and Parnter Learning Symposium; see last slide for changes to OK's Lifespan Voucher Program to ease eligibility restrictions in the time of COVID-19. OK increased the voucher amount; expanded provider eligibility to include someone who lives with the caregiver and care recipient; and lifted the household income requirement.

  • Tennessee's Respite During the Pandemic- Presentation from the 2020 Lifespan Respite Grantee and Partner Learning Symposium

  • Tennessee Respite Coaliton Mini Grants -  Tennessee caregivers may use the mini grants to purchase items, equipment, or subscriptions that can help enhance their quality of life and have a break from caregiving. Examples include: magazine or movie channel subscriptions, experiences, board games, tablets for accessing online support, home exercise equipment, items for crafts and hobbies, etc. Applicants are encouraged to be creative with what would give them the most effective break and tailor their requests accordingly.

  • Many grantee states, including AL, IL, MD, ND and NE, offer support for emergency respite services.

  • Virginia Navigator

  

  1. COVID-19 Resource for People with Disabilities

  2. Important COVID-19 Information for Older Adults, Caregivers, People with Disabilities, and Families

  3. How Tech Tools Can Help Caregivers During COVID-19 and Social Distancing

Exploring Respite Opportunities and Options  from ARCH

Please find in the ARCH document below, resources that include informal community, relationship or technology supports that might provide respite opportunities or respite enhancements outside the formal respite services system.  While many of the suggestions are for respite in the community, there are also resources, such as links to online support groups and e-learning, virtual museum trips, technology supports, mindfulness, stress reduction and relaxation apps, and more that family caregivers can access from home to get a much needed break.  If you think of more ideas, send them to ARCH and we will add them to the list!

             

STAR Database

 

Case Studies of Reopening Respite 

Back to Business: Re-starting Short Break Services, Case Studies from Shared Care Scotland

U.S. Case Studies  See also changes to lifespan respite voucher programs above.