Family caregiver respite services to expand in Seven States and DC

Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee announced today that more than $1.1 million was awarded to Delaware, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, and the District of Columbia to expand respite services for family caregivers. Through the Lifespan Respite Care Program Expansion, the grants will pay for direct services for caregivers as well as continued program development activities.

“Respite is crucial to caregivers who often become exhausted and isolated,” said Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee. “Providing respite ensures that families caring for loved ones with a disability receive the emotional support and services necessary to reduce stress and avoid burnout.”

The Lifespan Respite Care Program, administered by the Administration on Aging, has delivered grants to twenty-nine states and the District since 2009. The grants have improved the availability and quality of respite services across the lifespan in those states, which used the funding to strengthen statewide dissemination and coordination of respite care, fill service gaps and improve access to respite programs, and enhance the quality of respite care services.

The one-year Expansion grants will focus on ensuring respite services are provided to eligible populations. Today’s grantees may use some of the funds to further enhance volunteer recruitment, training and retention activities and to further enhance outreach and dissemination activities.

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For more information about the implementation of the Lifespan Respite Care Program and to learn more about the key activities of each of the grantees, please visit AoA’s website at: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/HCLTC/LRCP/index.aspx

Last Modified: 10/4/2011 9:46:05 AM