Respite Care

6-6-2 Respite Care


PURPOSE



1. To provide support and relief to families caring for adult applicants with a disability. (Persons eligible for the Disability Support Program are not eligible for benefits under this policy as this support is provided under that program.)



PRINCIPLE



2. The needs of adults with disabilities may most appropriately be met when living with their own families and/or in their own communities.



3. Most families providing care to adults with disabilities will need some measure of relief from that responsibility.



4. Respite services may be of a planned or unplanned nature.



POLICY



5. Respite care is defined as alternate care services provided to an adult with disabilities for the purpose of relieving his/her usual caregiver of parenting or supervision responsibilities for a specified period of time.



6. The worker will assess with the family the need for respite care. The use of respite care will be determined by the following criteria:

(a) level of care

(b) family’s support

(c) family’s coping ability/level of stress in family

(d) crisis situation that causes major change in family

(e) prevention of hospitalization.



7. Such services will usually be provided in the applicant’s home or in the residence of the respite care provider. In some specific situations, however, respite care may be provided in an alternative setting, such as an adult group home or a vocational day program.



8. Respite care services may be approved to a maximum of 24 days per fiscal year. Respite services over eight hours per day shall be considered one day for the purpose of calculating fiscal entitlement.



9. Regular sitting services may be approved, over and above the 24 day entitlement, to a maximum of four hours per week or the monthly equivalent.



10. Where it is difficult or inappropriate for the usual caregiver to use regular sitting services, it may be preferable to use the Special Care Allowance provision (6-4).



11. Where it appears a family will require more than 24 days respite care per year, a specific plan must be developed for approval by the designated authority.



12. Where the cost of camps or other activities offering the opportunity to live away from the applicant’s usual place of residence have been covered by this program, they are to be included in the calculation of respite entitlement.



13. Necessary transportation costs related to the provision of respite services may be provided where it would be an unreasonable financial burden on the family or usual caregiver.



14. Respite care services are not available to applicants who are residents of residential institutions. Staff of these facilities receive paid vacations and relief staff are part of the operational budgets.



PROCEDURE



15. Respite care rates are determined by completing an assessment profile.



16. Families will be responsible for making their own respite care arrangements. Workers will authorize and action payment of bills up to the 24 day limit. Approval from the departmental authority must be on file for any days beyond the 24 day limit.



17. Where a Special Care Allowance (6-4) is currently provided, the purpose must be reviewed to avoid paying twice for sitting services.



18. Where respite care is provided in an adult group home the group home will bill the applicant at a rate of $20.00 per day. The bills will be paid out of the applicant’s file and charged to Account Code W70. This daily rate is fixed by Agreement and does not depend on the functional level of the applicant.