Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition: Respite Environmental Scan/Needs Assessment

The 2010 Lifespan Respite Care grant to Massachusetts called for the Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition to accomplish several key tasks, including the completion of a written assessment on the state of respite services in Massachusetts. To that end, a series of information gathering activities were held in 2011 and 2012. With the assistance of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), a Family Caregiver Respite Service Needs Survey was distributed widely across the state, both electronically and in paper form. A series of Key Informant Interviews and Focus Groups with professionals and family caregivers representing a range of disabilities and age groups were also held.  The report presents the detailed findings from the survey.