Respite Care Services, also known simply as Respite, is a service that is available to people with developmental disabilities through the following funding sources: CIH Medicaid waiver, FS Medicaid waiver. Respite services are provided to individuals unable to care for themselves and are furnished on a short-term basis due to the absence or need for relief of those persons normally providing care. This service can be provided in the following locations: an individual’s home, the private home of the caregiver, or a non-private residential setting such as a respite home.
Levels & Allowable Activities
There are different levels of Respite services that can be provided depending on a person’s needs. These include services provided by a registered nurse, an LPN, or other trained agency staff. Allowable Respite activities include:
- Assistance with toileting and feeding
- Assistance with daily living skills, including assistance with accessing the community and community activities
- Assistance with grooming and personal hygiene
- Meal preparation, serving and cleanup
- Administration of medications
- Supervision
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use Respite to provide supervision for my child when I need to go to work or attend school?
A: No, Respite cannot be used to allow a caregiver to go to work or attend school.
Q: Can Respite services be used to pay for a summer camp for my child?
A: No, Respite cannot pay for camp tuition; however, a Respite caregiver can accompany your child during attendance in a camp setting and be reimbursed for those billable camp-related activities that meet the Respite service definition.
Q: Can a family member provide Respite?
A: Respite is intended to provide a temporary break to the primary caregiver. Family members can provide Respite as long as the service meets all requirements in the service definition, with the following exceptions:
- Respite services cannot be furnished to a minor child by a parent, step-parent or legal guardian.
- Respite cannot be furnished to a person by the person’s spouse.
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