WHY RESPITE?
In the U.S. today, nearly one out of every five homes is involved in caregiving to persons aged 60 or over. This means that about 25 million people are caregivers. Caregiving responsibilities can sometimes cause caregiver exhaustion, stress, depression and ill health. Respite services exist to provide a break, a time of renewal and an opportunity to reclaim personal time for caregivers. The goals of respite programs are:

1. To prevent caregiver "burnout"
2. To support the integrity of the family unit
3. To delay institutionalization as long as possible.

THE RESPITE PROGRAM
Funded by the Older Americans Act of Congress, the PHS Respite Program is designed so that caregivers can take time off. We provide short-term respite care arrangements for individuals 60 and older who are living with their unpaid, family caregivers. Priority is given to individuals who demonstrate economic and social need for services. Respite services are provided on a sliding fee scale (based on care recipient income) and families are asked to cost-share for services.

TYPES OF RESPITE
The Respite Program provides two basic types of service:

1. IN-HOME RESPITE: A Case Manager will meet with the family to assess needs, and then will make arrangements for regular, ongoing, at-home respite care (Hours vary depending on family needs).

2. FACILITY RESPITE: A Case Manager will meet with the family to assess needs, and then will make arrangements with contracted facilities for short-term overnight placement of the care recipient (typically one or two weeks stay in an Assisted Living Home or Skilled Nursing Facility).

ELIGIBILITY
Pima County residents.
Care recipients who are 60 years or older.
Families demonstrating economic and social need.

WHERE TO CALL
The Respite Program uses a centralized Intake office located at the Pima Council on Aging. All respite requests or referrals must start with a call to the Intake office.

Call 790-7262.