Respite for Family Caregivers of Adults with Neurological Conditions

Respite for Family Caregivers of Adults with Neurological Conditions

Millions of adults in the United States live with various neurological conditions, including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, cerebrovascular disease including stroke and headache, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s Disease, brain tumors, and acquired (ABI) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many, depending on the severity or progression of their condition, rely on family members, friends, or other volunteers to help them throughout the day.  However, respite for this group of individuals is difficult for family caregivers to find and to access due to limited respite options and funding sources. This fact sheet provides an overview of the population of adults with neurological conditions, and discusses considerations that families, respite providers, other program administrators and state Lifespan Respite grantees should take into account in relation to accessing or providing respite to family caregivers of these individuals.