NCDHHS’ Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) will receive $240,000 for the first year of a 3-year project from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) Lifespan Respite Care Program for services provided by DHHS' respite programs. North Carolina is one of 16 states to receive ACL grant awards.
Through these awards, states will focus on expanding or enhancing respite services for unpaid caregivers and growing a lifespan respite care system. This is DAAS’ seventh Lifespan Respite Care Program grant since 2009. This award will continue to support a variety of activities including the NC Lifespan Respite Voucher Program, a statewide service that provides a $500 voucher to eligible, unpaid family caregivers to purchase respite care.
Grant activities are coordinated in part by the NC Lifespan Respite State Advisory Team. This team is led by DAAS and is made up of DHHS Division representatives, caregivers, respite providers, and others interested in further supporting and growing respite services in North Carolina. This advisory team adopted the following definition for respite: “Respite is a break for unpaid caregivers who provide ongoing care for an individual of any age who needs help, care or supervision due to disability, chronic condition or other special needs. Respite is intended to provide relief to the caregiver.”
One out of five adults in North Carolina is a caregiver to a person with a health problem, disability, or other special needs. Nationally, an estimated 65 million adults provide this kind of assistance with a value of at least $470 billion, a figure that is nearly double the combined annual costs of home health care and nursing home care.
For more information about the award, go to ACL website.