AARP: Respite Services: A Critical Support for Family Caregivers
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Proposal Overview
Name: AARP: Respite Services: A Critical Support for Family Caregivers
Year: 2024
Sponsoring Organization and Key Author(s):
Sponsoring Organization:
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides resources, advocacy, and services to support the interests of Americans age 50 and older.
Key Authors:
Susan Reinhard, Jane Tilly, and Brendan Flinn
Program Details
Overview: Policy brief explores how respite care impacts family caregivers, and the barriers to its use. It reviews innovative federal and state programs that provide and/or pay for respite care. It makes recommendations for respite care research and programs. Only legislative recommendations are described below.
Major Legislative Recommendations
Expand/Enhance Caregiver Programs
Respite
Recommends a broader definition of respite in Medicare, Medicaid, veteran programs, and other federal programs to include “any activity that provides the caregiver with a meaningful break from their responsibilities.” This definition helps ensure respite is flexible and meaningful to the caregiver.