A Resource for Relative Caregivers

Brookdale Foundation RAPP Meeting

Denver, CO

October 17-19, 2014

In the beginning….2011

� ARCH National Technical Assistance Respite Summit in Virginia

�Lifespan Respite Care Grant awarded to Virginia

The 2011-2013 GrantGoal: Build a statewide coordinated caregiver respite

system for families providing support to individuals of age with special needs, and/or with any disability or chronic condition

“…It's the Circle of Life And it moves us all Through despair and hope Through faith and love…”

Objective 1: Build an integrated and sustainable lifespan respite infrastructure

“…Everybody get together, Try to love one

another Right now…”or not!

� Expansion of the Virginia Caregiver Coalition (VCC)

(Caregiver Coalitions sign an MOU with the state entity applying for Lifespan Respite Care Grants)

� VCC represented on state and local ADRC advisory councils

� Statewide survey to inventory respite services and funding sources

The Virginia Caregiver Coalition� Founded 2004

� All volunteer, statewide membership – administrative support from DARS

� Meets every other month and always has an educational program

� Utilizes video conferencing

� Operates under By-Laws that provides for an Executive Committee and Executive Board

� Three Committees: Membership, Advocacy, Education

Virginia Statewide Kinship Care Task Force

and Information Network

Knowledge is Power!Objective 2: Assist caregivers in gaining information

about and access to respite services

� Expand and update statewide ADRC database

� Develop an online Family Caregiver Solution Center

� Develop webinars for family caregivers

The Virginia Family Caregiver Solution

Center

http://www.virginianavigator.org/vf/

“…You can bet as sure as you live…Something’s

gotta give…”Johnny Mercer

Objective 3: Train and recruit respite workers and volunteers

� Video conference training for caregivers of Alzheimer’s

Disease patients

� Virginia Caregiver Coalition meeting to discuss existing respite programs utilizing volunteers

� Information for hiring respite workers on the Virginia Family Caregiver Solution Center

Respite Voucher Program

Objective 4: Establish a respite voucher program

� Expansion grant – 2012

� Merged 2011 planned emergency respite voucher program into a Pilot One Year Voucher Program

� Established a voucher review committee

� Produced voucher program information, application and reimbursement forms

� Worked with fiscal department to establish a payee system

� Publicized the voucher program

Voucher Launch

Pilot Voucher Program Results

Caregivers requesting respite included parents, adult children,

siblings, grandparents and legal guardians

Sustainability� Technical Assistance Grant – Coaching by The

Finance Project

� A Sustainability Committee

� Vision and Goals

� Objectives

Building Sustainability in Virginia’s

Lifespan Respite Care Program

Vision Statement: Caregivers of individuals of any age or disability should be valued and supported.

Goal Statement: Strengthen and expand the availability and delivery of quality lifespan respite support for caregivers who provide unpaid care to individuals of any age, disability or special need

� Reopening the Lifespan Respite Care Voucher Program with emphasis on underserved populations

� Sustaining the Virginia Family Caregiver Solution Center

� Expanding the Virginia Caregiver Coalition to include professionals and family caregivers who provide care to individuals of all ages and disabilities

� Participating in the activities of the ARCH Lifespan Respite Care Program.

� Strengthening advocacy efforts for Lifespan Respite Care in the Commonwealth – including business groups, state agencies, and p0litical representatives

� Establishing volunteer respite groups throughout the Commonwealth – adapting an online training program from Wisconsin

2014 Grant – Building Sustainability in

State Lifespan Respite Programs

Implementation of the grant activities began

September 1, 2014

1. Reopening voucher program

2. Adapting on-line respite provider training

3. Forming VCC Committees to partner with DARS

on grant activities

4. Revisiting Finance Project Tool Kit

The Journey Continues!Ellen M. Nau

Program Coordinator

Virginia Department for Aging and Disability Services

1610 Forest Avenue Ste.100

Henrico, Virginia 23229

Ellen.Nau@dars.virginia.gov

804-662-9340