Respite Care
Background
Respite care is temporary care for a disabled person for the purpose of giving the primary caregiver, usually a parent, relief from the routine of daily care giving. Respite care may be for a few hours so the primary caregiver can attend to personal needs or for a few days so the family can have a much-needed vacation. Occasional respite care helps to relieve the stress of caring for a disabled child and thus helps to prevent abuse and neglect and strengthen family stability. Services can be provided in the Exceptional Family Member's (EFM's) home, in the respite caregiver's home, or in a care facility. The following key points provide summaries of some of the respite care options available to families with EFMs.
Key Points
- TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) – The TRICARE ECHO is a supplemental program to the basic TRICARE program. ECHO provides financial assistance for an integrated set of services and supplies to eligible active duty family members (including family members of activated National Guard or Reserve service members). The ECHO program also provides in-home respite care services to eligible beneficiaries within the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands.
- Army Respite Care Program – Eligibility for the Army Respite Care Program is based on Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) enrollment status, the EFM's medical or educational condition, and deployment needs. Families can receive up to forty hours of respite per month for each certified exceptional family member. More information on the program is available through the installation EFMP Manager, identified through the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory.
- Marine Corps EFMP Respite Care Program – The Marine Corps EFMP Respite Care Program provides temporary rest periods for family members responsible for the regular care of persons with disabilities. The Marine Corps EFMP Respite Care Program provides up to forty hours of respite care monthly for EFMP enrolled families. Respite care may be provided by the installation Child Development Center, Family Child Care Home, Visiting Nursing Service, family member, or neighbor. Interested families should contact their local installation EFMP Coordinator, identified through the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory.
- Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) Respite Care Program – The AFAS Respite Care Program is available for active duty Air Force families who have been referred to the AFAS by the Air Force Family Advocacy Program or EFMP. Eligibility for the program is based on financial need.
Resources
- The ARC of the United States – The ARC of the United States advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The ARC of the United States provides numerous programs and services including respite care.
- ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center – The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs in the United States; helps families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities; and serves as a strong voice for respite in all forums. The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center website provides a respite locator, consumer information, an events calendar, contact information for state respite coalitions, and links to products and publications.
- Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Respite Childcare – Provided through the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Outreach Initiative, participating YMCA locations may provide up to sixteen hours of free respite child care per month per child up to the age of twelve for authorized military families. The ASYMCA Respite Childcare website provides information on the program, eligibility requirements, and a tool to find participating YMCAs.
- Easter Seals Respite Care Program – Easter Seals Respite Care Program gives participants an opportunity to engage in social and recreational activities while their families get a much-needed break from the demands of care giving.
Frequently Asked Questions on Respite Care
The following are Frequently Asked Questions on Respite Care. Please click on the question and the answer will appear. Click again to hide the answer.
What is respite care?
Respite care is temporary care for a disabled person for the purpose of giving the primary caregiver, usually a parent, relief from the routine of daily care giving. Respite care may be for a few hours so the primary caregiver can attend to personal needs or for a few days so the family can have a much-needed vacation. Occasional respite care helps to relieve the stress of caring for a disabled child and thus helps to prevent abuse and neglect and strengthen family stability. Services can be provided in the Exceptional Family Member's (EFM) home, in the respite caregiver's home, or in a care facility. |
Does TRICARE provide for respite care?
Through the TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) program, parents may qualify for a respite care benefit. ECHO beneficiaries qualify for sixteen hours of respite care a month, to be administered in the home by a TRICARE authorized home health agency. During respite hours, the caregiver may leave the home. Parents should be advised that respite care is authorized only when the beneficiary is receiving some other ECHO benefit during the same month. |
What is TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) Home Health Care (EHHC)?
TRICARE ECHO also includes extended home health care and respite care for caregivers of special needs dependents whose condition renders them homebound. EHHC allows for licensed or registered nurses to provide skilled home health care in excess of twenty-eight hours a week. Eligible beneficiaries should be encouraged to speak to their regional contractor or TRICARE Area Office to determine the maximum monthly limit (cap) for EHHC home care benefits. Respite care under EHHC allows for a maximum of eight hours, five days per week of respite care, which may be used as a sleep benefit. Respite care under EHHC cannot be used in conjunction with ECHO's respite care. |
If parents do not qualify for the respite care benefit through the TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO), what other options are available?
Many parents who need respite care do not qualify under ECHO, but there are other respite care options and funding sources available from both military and civilian agencies. |
What are the eligibility requirements for the Army Respite Care Program?
Eligibility for the Army's Respite Care Program is based on Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) enrollment status, the exceptional family member's medical or educational condition, and deployment needs. Families can receive up to forty hours of respite per month for each certified exceptional family member. More information about the program is available through the revised Army Memorandum titled "Guidelines for Use of FY 07 Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Funds for Exceptional Family Member Program Respite Care," dated June 4, 2007, or through the local EFMP Manager, available through the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. |
What is the Marine Corps Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Respite Care Program?
The Marine Corps EFMP Respite Care is a program that provides temporary rest periods for family members responsible for the regular care of persons with disabilities. The Marine Corps EFMP Respite Care program provides up to forty hours of respite care monthly for EFMP enrolled families. Respite Care may be provided by the installation Child Development Center (CDC), Family Child Care (FCC) Home, Visiting Nursing Service, family member, or neighbor. Interested families should contact their local installation EFMP Coordinator through the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. |
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