Providing and Receiving Respite Care Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Voluntary National Guidelines for Respite Care Agencies, Providers, Family Caregivers, and Respite Care Recipients

UPDATED WITH GUIDANCE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS, December 2021

Principal Author: Kim E. Whitmore, PhD, RN, CPN, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Founder and Chief Change Officer of Ujima United, LLC

As more communities across the country continue to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic, many respite care agencies and other respite providers are also working to adapt services, as needed. The guidelines provided in this document are designed to assist providers as well as family caregivers with careful and thoughtful planning and implementation strategies to provide and receive respite care as safely as possible during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The update includes important guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations and the evolving COVID-19 variants.

We want to emphasize that information from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Local Public Health Departments should be your primary source for guidance on COVID-19 and other health related issues. It is important to closely monitor local guidance and consult with your healthcare professional to ensure your health and safety.

Amendments to the Guidelines