What is the Friends and Family Respite Program?
Respite care is designed to help families. Caregivers often face serious problems and stress as a result of balancing the needs of their older loved one with the needs of other family members. These breaks, that respite care provides, allow families time to tend to the needs of their chil-dren, spouses, and themselves.
Southwest 8’s Friends and Family Respite Program is temporary relief care designed for fami-lies of adults aged 60 and older with special needs. Respite care can range from a few hours of care provided on a one-time basis to overnight or extended care sessions. Respite care can be utilized on a regular or irregular basis and can be provided by family members, friends, skilled care providers or professionals. Providers, chosen by the family, care for their loved ones while families run errands, take a class, go on a trip, or just get away from caregiving responsibilities for awhile.
How does Friends and Family Respite work?
For an eligible older adult, a family may receive authorization to receive up to $750.00 of Res-pite Care services per year (July 1- June 30). This can be utilized all at once for a vacation or in smaller periods, such as weekly errand-running. Southwest 8 Senior Services will reim-burse for Friends and Family Respite service at an hourly rate of $7.50. The family selects a friend, other family member or a private agency and completes the Caregiver Program Appli-cation for Services and the Caregiver Registration Form. The individual or agency providing respite service will be issued a check by Southwest 8 at a rate of $7.50 per hour, not to exceed $750.00 annually per care recipient. (If professional agency is used, caregiver is responsible for amount above $7.50 per hour rate) Approval for reimbursement must be sought before res-pite is needed. Southwest 8 Senior Services WILL NOT reimburse caregivers for respite that does not have prior approval.
