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Respite Care from National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)
| Definition | Qualifications | Costs |
| Pros & Cons | Benefit Types & Limits | How to Apply |
| Overview of NFCSP’s Caregiver Respite Program | ||
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) provides grants to the
states to support a range of programs that assist caregivers in caring for
their loved ones at home for as long as possible. One of these programs is
their Caregiver Respite Care program.
Caregiver respite programs provide trained caregivers that attend to the individual in need of care to give the primary caregiver time to relax and attend to their own needs. Typically respite care occurs in the family home but can occur in adult day care centers or overnight residential facilities.
The NFCSP Respite Care program is administered locally by the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Eligibility and benefits for this program differ with every AAA. Provided here are general eligibility, benefits and limitations. However one should check with their local AAA for specific details.
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Caregiver respite programs provide trained caregivers that attend to the individual in need of care to give the primary caregiver time to relax and attend to their own needs. Typically respite care occurs in the family home but can occur in adult day care centers or overnight residential facilities.
The NFCSP Respite Care program is administered locally by the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Eligibility and benefits for this program differ with every AAA. Provided here are general eligibility, benefits and limitations. However one should check with their local AAA for specific details.
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Alone, respite care is not a solution to paying for senior care, but when
combined with other care options such as the Cash and Counseling Program and
caregiver tax credits, respite care might make the difference that enables a
senior to continue receiving care in the home instead of moving into a
residential community.
How it works
The process differs with each administering agency but typically it works as
follows. A caregiver contacts their local Area Agency on Aging (AAAs) and has
on-the-phone pre-screening. This is followed by a home visit by a respite care
manager that assesses the needs of the care recipient, talks with family
members and may talk with their doctor.
If approved for respite care, the caregiver typically receives a voucher for a certain number of hours or a dollar amount. They can then interview potential respite providers, usually from a pre-approved list provided by their AAA. On occasion, the AAA has a list of volunteers from which the family can choose. It is normal to ask the respite caregiver questions about their background and caregiving experience so that the family is comfortable.
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If approved for respite care, the caregiver typically receives a voucher for a certain number of hours or a dollar amount. They can then interview potential respite providers, usually from a pre-approved list provided by their AAA. On occasion, the AAA has a list of volunteers from which the family can choose. It is normal to ask the respite caregiver questions about their background and caregiving experience so that the family is comfortable.
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Be Aware That:
Respite care waiting lists are common.
Caregiver Respite is Also Known As::
-Caregiver Relief
-Care for the Caregiver
-Respite Programs
-Respite Voucher Programs
-OAA Title IIIE
-Care for the Caregiver
-Respite Programs
-Respite Voucher Programs
-OAA Title IIIE
The following eligibility information differs with each AAA. The information that follows is typical; however one should check with their local AAA for specific details.
Age Requirements
With respite care, age requirements can play in two ways; the age of the
caregiver and the care recipient: the Area Agencies on Aging differ in their
requirements of both. The majority require a caregiver to be at least 18 years
old and the care recipient to be 60+ years old, although some require 65+.
Disabilities / Health Requirements
90% of programs have some health status requirements. These vary by program;
some require nursing home eligibility, others require the care recipient be
unable to perform at least 2 activities of daily living and others are based on
having a specific condition such as Alzheimer’s.
Family Status
Typically there are no requirements that the caregiver be a family member to
receive respite care, only that they are the primary individual providing the
care.
Financial Status Requirements
The NFCSP’s respite care program goal is to give priority to older persons with
low incomes. Most AAAs will assess the income and / or the assets of the care
recipient when making a decision. While there are not published financial
limits, a rule of thumb is those seniors that meet the Supplementary Security
Income limits will also be eligible for respite care. However, this changes in
each AAA so it is important to check the requirements of your local office.
Veteran Status Requirements
A caregiver’s or care recipient’s veteran status is not a factor in determining
eligibility for NFCSP’ respite care.
Geographic Requirements
The Area Agencies on Aging that administer NFCSP’s respite care program have
specific coverage areas. Care recipients must reside within their Agency’s
coverage area, which typically determined by county.
Other Requirements
Other additional possible requirements for the NFGSP’s respite care program may
exist. These could include:
• The primary caregiver must be providing a minimum of 40 care hours / week.
• The caregiver / care recipient cannot also be receiving respite care services from other organizations.
• The care recipient cannot have a LTC insurance policy that provides adult day care, home care services or Hospice care.
• The caregiver cannot be receiving payment for their service.
• The primary caregiver must be providing a minimum of 40 care hours / week.
• The caregiver / care recipient cannot also be receiving respite care services from other organizations.
• The care recipient cannot have a LTC insurance policy that provides adult day care, home care services or Hospice care.
• The caregiver cannot be receiving payment for their service.
Types of Benefit Payout
Respite care most commonly comes in the form of a respite care voucher that can
be redeemed from a pre-approved list of home care providers, although some
administrating agencies may provide their own respite caregivers.
Restrictions on How Payout Can be Used
Most commonly respite care vouchers can be redeemed for respite care in the
home, in adult day care or in an overnight residential facility.
Benefits Amounts & Limits
The respite care limits differ with each Area Agency on Aging that administers
the program. One AAA’s published their limits as 32 hours of respite care every
3 months and another published theirs as $3,500 in services per year. However
most AAAs do not publish this information as it changes continuously based on
their availability and budget.
Time to Receive Benefits
The eligibility evaluation and processing period changes with each AAA provider,
however one should expect several months between initial contact and receiving
the care. Waiting lists sometimes exist that significantly lengthen the time
before receiving care.
This Source Can Help For
Respite care in the home, in an adult day care center or in an overnight
residences.
Most commonly respite care from the Area Agencies on Aging is offered free of
charge. However some agencies require a co-pay. For example, they may grant
$500 of respite care for a 20% co-pay. Said another way, a family pays $100
and in return receives $500 worth of care.
Applications for respite care are available at the local Area Agency on Aging
level. Click here to find your local AAA and determine if they offer respite
care
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