Respite for Adults

RHODE ISLAND

Grant Information


Name of Grantee

Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS)

Title of Grant

Respite Care for Adults Feasibility Study

Type of Grant

Respite for Adults

Amount of Grant

$100,000

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Contact Information


Frank Spinelli, Project Director
401-462-1892
FSpinell@dhs.ri.gov

Dianne Kayala
Chief, Family Health Systems
Project Coordinator
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

401-462-6303
dkayala@dhs.ri.gov

Subcontractor(s)

ACS

Target Population(s)


Working age adults and elderly persons with disabilities.

Goal


The goal of this study is to determine whether consumers and caregivers would accept respite care as an alternative to institutional or more costly home and community services.

Activities


  • Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and literature review on respite care.
  • Analyze the current availability and future capacity of organizations to provide respite services.
  • Identify best practices used by other states to inform the design and implementation of a respite program.
  • Estimate potential savings to the Medicaid Program as a result of providing respite care, and determine the best ways to coordinate public and private resources in the provision of respite services.
  • Design a respite care benefit and develop implementation tools (e.g., credentialing process, provider agreements).
  • Develop an evaluation plan.

Abstract


Rhode Island currently has six 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services waivers for elderly persons and younger adults with disabilities, only one of which includes respite services. The purpose of this project is to enable the Department of Human Services (DHS) to determine the nature, scope, and magnitude of the need for respite care in Rhode Island and to expand the respite services currently being provided to consumers by the Diocese of Providence.

This project will determine the need for respite services and assess the parameters and impact of providing respite care for adults with disabilities. Stakeholders will be involved in all phases of project activities, which include determining the needs criteria for respite services; estimating the number and characteristics of people needing respite services; identifying roadblocks and best practices; evaluating current respite initiatives; assessing unmet needs; determining system capacity to provide needed respite services; and designing a benefit that defines type, scope, settings, locations, and providers.