Traditional Funding Sources for Respite Care
Hospice Care - The Medicare Hospice Benefit includes a provision for respite care of up to five consecutive days. Care is usually provided in a skilled nursing facility (SNF)and paid for by the hospice agency. Respite care under the hospice benefit is usually considered in cases of caregiver stress or burnout or in instances where family members need to travel or take care of their own health related problems.
Long Term Care Insurance - Most long term care insurance plans include a respite care benefit. The amount and length of coverage differs widely from plan to plan so be sure to read you coverage benefits carefully.
SSI - Patients with disability coverage from Social Security may qualify for home health care benefits. Home health care may not cover 24 hour care giving needs so you'll need to verify your eligibility with the Social Security Administration and get specific information from home health agencies as to what services they can provide.
Medicaid - Medicaid doesn't fund respite services directly but some states are able to apply federal funds to help cover respite services. Check with your local Area on Aging for more information on federally funded programs in your area.
Veterans Benefits - The Veterans Administration (VA) provides inpatient respite coverage for up to 30 days per year for qualified veterans. In addition, when veterans care for their spouses, funding for in-home services are available on a state-by-state basis.
State Agencies - Over half of all states allow family members to receive payment for providing respite care. Eligibility, delivery modes and funding vary from state to state.
Finding resources and funding for respite care may seem like a daunting task. It's made much easier with the help of a social worker or geriatric case manager. If you don't have access to either one of these professionals, just begin at the top of this list and work your way down contacting as many agencies as possible to find out what is available to you.
It takes a little time and effort to find suitable respite care but the rewards are worth it. You'll be confident that your loved one is being cared for properly and you'll return from your respite refreshed (hopefully!) and a better caregiver.
