A.
Definition and Purpose
Respite care is the providing of temporary relief time for
the regular or primary caregiver (spouse, child, relative) of an ill, frail,
infirmed, functionally impaired older individual or dementia patient that
requires constant in-home care.
The purpose of respite care is to:
1. prevent, delay, or avoid premature or
unnecessary institutionalization;
2. prevent elder abuse;
3. prevent or reduce physical and emotional
stress on the family;
4. reduce and
give the primary caregiver some much needed personal time away from home and
the caregiver's role;
5. prevent
caregiver's burnout; and
6. give
the caregiver an interval of rest from the burden of constant care.
B.
Eligibility
A family caregiver, grandparent or older individual who is a
relative caregiver. Priority is given to older individuals with greatest social
and economic need, (with particular attention to low-income older individuals)
and older individuals providing care and support to persons with mental
disability and related developmental disabilities.
D.
Minimum Program Requirements:
Each service provider of Respite for the Family Caregiver
Support Program must comply with the Minimum Program Requirements developed by
the Division of Aging and Adult Services.
1.
Service
Activities
a. The Respite Care
worker must provide one or more of the following primary activities: feeding,
personal care needs, companionship, support or general supervision.
b. Respite Care is provided by placing a
respite worker in the client's or caregiver's home; or the client can attend a
local senior center.
c.
Institutional Respite can be provided by an approved adult day care center,
licensed board and care home, nursing home or hospital.
d. a minimum of one hour and no more that 32
hours per month, unless for emergency or unusual circumstances.
2.
Location of
Service
Respite services are provided in the caregiver/care
recipient's home or a local senior center. Institutional Respite may be
provided by one of the following:
a.
DAAS approved adult day care center;
b. Licensed board and care home;
c. Nursing home;
d. Hospital; and e. Trained Respite Care
Worker.
3.
Access to Service
The caregiver may enter the service system at any point
through an appropriate referral.
4.
Delivery
Characteristics
a. Each
caregiver shall have a record to include:
(1)
Screening/intake/caregiver assessment;
(2) A plan of care;
(3) Referral form, if applicable;
(4) Authorization releases, where
appropriate;
a. to share information with
emergency personnel
b. to provide
skilled services; and
c. to
provide recreational or medical emergency transportation.
(5) Documentation of services provided, date
and time, and respite worker's name providing the service; and
(6) Notice of termination of service, if
applicable.
b. Respite
services may be available day or night, seven days a week, including holidays,
during the hours that will best meet the needs of the caregivers.
c. Respite care at DAAS approved adult day
care centers may be provided.
d.
Institutional respite at a licensed nursing home, licensed board and care or
hospital may be available 24 hours a day within the planning and service
area.
e. If respite service is
provided at any location other than the caregiver/care recipient's home under
the FCSP, the care recipient must meet the requirements established by the
program and the licensed facility. The licensed facility must meet the
licensing requirements of the State Board of Health.
f. The caregiver/care recipient shall be
allowed the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the service.
5.
Staffing
a. There
shall be a person responsible for the day-to-day operation of the service at
the Area Agency on Aging.
b. There
must be an adequate number of staff to meet the goals of the program.
c. The respite worker should:
(1) have past experience in caring for
someone who is ill, disabled or elderly;
(2) have the ability to communicate with the
caregiver/care recipient with speech/hearing or visual impairments; (No formal
training is needed to detect a speech problem);
(3) be able to maintain
confidentiality;
(4) have reliable
transportation.
d. It
will be the responsibility of each provider agency to ensure that respite staff
is available to provide various levels of care under the NFCSP.
e. Annual training should consist of:
(1) safety education;
(2) elderly abuse detection and
prevention;
(3) emergency
procedures;
(4)
confidentiality;
(5) first aid, CPR
and the Heimlich;
(6) communication
skills;
(7) the Aging process;
and
(8) orientation to the Respite
Program (policies and procedures).
6.
Prohibited Service
Activities
The following activities are prohibited by the Respite
Worker:
a. Use of caregiver/care
recipient's cars.
b. Consumption of
caregivers' food or drink.
c. Use
of caregivers' telephones for any reason other than an emergency or respite
related activities.
d. Breach of
caregivers' confidentiality.
e.
Acceptance of gifts or tips.
f.
Bringing friends or relatives of respite worker to caregivers' homes.
g. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or
drugs in caregivers' home or consumption of alcoholic beverages prior to or
during service delivery to clients.
h. Smoking in caregivers' homes.
i. Solicitation of money or goods from
caregivers.
j. providing yard
maintenance
k. grooming pets
l. making home repairs
7.
Monitoring
The Bureau of Audit and Evaluation, Department of Human
Services, shall monitor at least annually.
