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Virginia families who care for a loved one with disabilities or chronic conditions can apply for up to $400 reimbursement for respite care under a limited voucher program from the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).

Respite care refers to services (such as home care and adult day care) or facilities (such as assisted living residences) that offer caregivers short-term, temporary relief from caregiving duties. Respite care is intended to help reduce the strain on caregivers so they can continue to provide for their loved ones.

Respite for caregivers can range from a few hours to days or weeks, and can be planned ahead or urgent.

Who is eligible?

Caregivers who apply to the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program and are approved may qualify for reimbursements to cover costs related to respite care through the program.

The voucher payments are for families who provide unpaid care, with an emphasis on those with a diagnosis of dementia, as well as helping grandparents or relative caregivers providing care to a child under age 18 or an individual between the ages of 19 to 59 who has a severe disability.

To qualify for consideration, the caregiver must provide full-time care to an individual of any age and/or disability who lives with the caregiver in Virginia. In addition, the caregiver cannot have benefited previously from the program.

“One in five adult Virginians is a caregiver and more than one in six spend 40 hours or more a week providing that care,” said DARS Commissioner Kathryn A. Hayfield. “Respite can help provide essential support so you can continue to care for your loved one as well as for yourself and others in your family. I strongly encourage family caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The Administration for Community Living awarded DARS $88,333 for the program for each of the next three years. The first year of the program closes Aug. 31, 2019, or when the funding runs out.

Respite programs

Since 2012, when DARS received similar grants, the Commonwealth has provided vouchers to 1,138 families for such respite services as:

• An in-home program, where services are provided in the family’s home or a care provider’s home
• A center-based program, where family caregivers bring the care recipient (e.g., child, adult, or an older individual) to a facility to receive respite care
• A child or adult care center, family day care home or adult family home which provides temporary care in addition to regular child or adult care services
• Assisted living or nursing home respite programs

For more information on how to apply, visit www.vda.virginia.gov or contact the office at 800-552-3402. Visit the Virginia Family Caregiver Solution Center at vf.virginianavigator.org for additional information on respite and related services available.