The Role of Respite in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

An ARCH Policy to Practice Brief

The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers includes an abundance of important and relevant information and guidance to support caregivers. Given the breadth and complexity of the Strategy, the purpose of this brief is to establish the unique role that Lifespan Respite grantees and their partners can play in streamlining implementation of the Strategy’s recommended respite actions. The intent of this paper is also to make it easier for agencies, providers, and others to identify specific actions they can take to implement the Strategy’s recommended respite actions in their day-to-day practice.

To clarify the important role that respite could, and should, play in realizing the promise of the National Strategy, we show explicit examples and unique opportunities to implement the identified respite actions through existing Lifespan Respite programs, services, and systems. These examples and opportunities reside in four areas: Planning and Decision-Making; Information and Access; Person- and Family-Centered Services; and Workforce Development.