Maximizing Respite Time and Reducing Caregiver Burden

A Glimpse of North Carolina’s Efforts to Enhance Respite Time for Family Caregivers

Presented by Alicia Blater, M.S., APR, Family Caregiver Support Program Consultant, Lifespan Respite Project Director, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services in a webinar Caregivers Supporting People with Dementia: New Research and Technology, as part of the 2015 ACL/CDC/NIA Webinar Series on Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias, November 17, 2015

The presenter described the outcomes of using a planning tool to help family caregivers maximize the benefit of their respite time. The tool was developed from research conducted by Dr. Dale Lund at the California State University at San Bernardino and the University of Utah. Studies showed when a caregiver uses their respite time to do what they intended to do, he/she may feel less burden and more satisfaction with their caregiving role.  [Learn more about respite time use in the webinar, Making Respite More Effective.]

Minigrants were awarded to nine community-based agencies across North Carolina to provide respite through voucher programs to underserved populations. The grantees were required to use the planning tool with family caregivers in consultation with the provider on the benefits of planning respite time, and to measure its impact on caregiver burden.  An effect was found such that average caregiver burden scores significantly declined from pre-to post-respite only for those caregivers that talked to their provider about respite planning.

A revised planning tool, available in English and Spanish, is now used in conjunction with the NC Lifespan Respite Project’s respite voucher program.

In April 2025, ARCH hosted a webinar, Time for Living and Caring – An approach to planning respite time to maximize caregiver benefit . Dr. Rebecca Utz, a colleague of Dr. Dale Lund at the University of Utah, described the benefits of the use of an app, Time for Living and Caring (TLC), designed to support caregivers by helping them plan for and make the most effective use of their respite time.