1. RESPITE
Ellen M. Nau, M.A., Human Services Program Coordinator
Virginia Department for the Aging

2. RESPITE
Respite is a concept.
It can mean temporary services provided to aged, infirm or
disabled adults that allow their caregivers to take a break from
caregiving.
Jefferson Board on Aging Adult Day Health Care Center

3. VIRGINIA RESPITE CARE INITIATIVE PROGRAM
 Established by the 1988 General Assembly to provide respite
for elderly (60 and older), and persons with Alzheimer’s disease
or related illnesses
 Clients must have a twenty-four hour caregiver
 Respite care limited to 35 hours per month per client
Jefferson Board on Aging Adult Day Health Care Client

4. VIRGINIA RESPITE CARE INITIATIVE PROGRAM
(CONT.)
FY 2009:
 83,063 hours of respite provided by this program
 309 clients received adult day care, personal care,
homemaker, companion care and hospice services
 Program participants included 11 Area Agencies on
Aging and 3 non-profits
 Participants must furnish matching funds and cost
sharing is permitted using the Virginia Department of
Health sliding fee scale

5. RESPITE
ADULT DAY CARE
IN-HOME
RESPITE
INSTITUTIONAL
RESPITE CARE

6. ADULT DAY CARE
 Social day care (providing social activities, meals,
recreation, and limited health-related services).
 Adult health day care (offering more intensive health,
therapeutic, and social services for individuals with severe
medical problems). Adult day care is useful for caregivers
who cannot stay home all day to provide care, supervision,
and companionship.
Adult Care Center of Central Virginia

7. PERSONAL CARE SERVICES
 In-home respite care combines health care and support
services to help people with disabilities continue living at home
as well as possible. Two types of home care are available:
Home health care services provide Non-medical home care services
medical care such as medication include personal care, companionship,
assistance, nursing services, and housekeeping, cooking, and other
physical therapy. household activities.
Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens Crater District Area Agency on Aging

8. INSTITUTIONAL RESPITE CARE
 Institutional respite care in nursing homes, assistive living
centers, and occasionally hospitals, provide respite care for
individuals with disabilities who need to be away from home
overnight or for several days. They can handle people in need of
more care.

9. THE NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT
PROGRAM (NFCSP)
 A multifaceted support system that helps families sustain their
efforts to care for an older individual or child
 Area Agencies on Aging are encouraged to develop new models
of caregiver support that enhance the role of the family
caregiver
 There must be both a caregiver and a care recipient to qualify
for Title III-E services

10. NFCSP ELIGIBLE POPULATION
Caregiver is an adult family member, or another individual
who is an informal provider of in-home and community care
to:
 An individual who is 60 years of age or older; and for persons
receiving Respite or Supplemental Service, meets the
definition of “frail” as found in Section 102 (26) of the Older
Americans Act
 A child not more than 18 years of age being cared for by a
“grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver”
55 years of age or older

11. SERVICE DELIVERY ELEMENTS
FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES
 Information to caregivers about available services
 Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services:
 Information and Referral/Assistance
 Care Coordination
 Transportation
 Assisted transportation

12. SERVICE DELIVERY ELEMENTS
FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES (cont.)
 Individual Counseling, organization of support groups, and
training to caregivers to assist them in making decisions and
solving problems related to their caregiving roles

13. SERVICE DELIVERY ELEMENTS
FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES (cont.)
 Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved
of their caregiving responsibilities
 Adult Day Care
 Homemaker
 Personal Care
 Institutional Respite
 Direct Payments
 Other

14. SERVICE DELIVERY ELEMENTS
FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES (cont.)
 Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement
the care provided by caregivers
 Chore
 Congregate Meals
 Home Delivered Meals
 Direct Payments
 Other supplemental services

15. VIRGINIA CAREGIVER COALITION
 Volunteer coalition that meets bi-monthly at VDA
 Formed after coalition training session sponsored by AARP
 Discussion centers on a variety of issues of concern to
caregivers and how to resolve these issues
 Produced new revised Taking Care A Resource Guide for
Caregivers

16. VIRGINIA CAREGIVER COALITION
 90+ members from state, local, AAA, public and private
organizations
 Recognized in 2007, 2008, 2009 by the National Alliance for
Caregiving (NAC)
 Facilitator presented on the Coalition at the NCOA/ASA
National Conference in March, 2009

17. KINSHIP CARE INITIATIVE STATEWIDE TASK FORCE
AND INFORMATION NETWORK
 Volunteer coalition that meets quarterly
 Focus on issues of interest to relatives serving as parents
 Founded on seed money from the Brookdale Foundation –
although money is exhausted, the task force still receives
technical support from Brookdale
 Partnership with Kinship Care Workgroup at the Virginia
Department of Social Services

18. VIRGINIA’S ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED
DISORDERS COMMISSION
 Advisory Committee to the Governor and Secretary of Health
and Human Resources to assist people with Alzheimer’s
disease or related disorders, as well as their caregivers
 Nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor,
Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections
 2007, 2008, 2009 Reports of this Commission advocate for
more respite for caregivers

19. ELECTRONIC PROGRAMS TO AID CAREGIVERS
 Developing the PeerPlace Program for easy transference of
client information
 Virginia Easy Access - information for caregivers that has a
portal to more information at SeniorNavigator.com

20. At the Virginia Department for the Aging, we want
all our seniors to age gracefully and comfortably
as they ride into their sunset years!
www.vda.virginia.gov

21. CONTACT/PROGRAM INFO
Ellen M. Nau, M.A., Human Services Program Coordinator
National Family Caregiver Support Program
In-Home Services
Adult Day Care
Virginia Respite Care Grant
Virginia Respite Care Initiative
Care Coordination for Elderly Virginians
Kinship Care
Money Follows the Person Grant
Elderly Refugee Program
Virginia Department for the Aging
804-662-9340