COVID-19 Case Study: Agape Respite Care, Indiana

Agape Respite Care, Inc. is primarily an out-of-home, lifespan respite house located in Berne, Indiana. Agape has provided services for families from all over Indiana for 28 years. Care is customized to meet each family’s personal and individualized needs. Services are available for individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities and those with needs acquired through an accident, illness, or aging. Agape serves approximately 50-60 families each year with some families using the services regularly and others only using the services one time.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state shelter-in-place started March 25th, 2020. However, since Agape services were identified as “essential,” services continued for a short time. Agape closed on April 13th to provide time to plan, educate staff, and prepare for best practices and ensure safe care. Policies and procedures were developed to address service delivery issues and purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and individuals receiving services.

Agape respite services were reopened on May 11th once policies and procedures as well as screening protocols and orientation for DSPs and families were in place.