You likely devote a great deal of time and energy to taking care of a loved one living with disabilities and special needs, but it’s so important that you take care of yourself, too! If you are not at your best, how can you give your best to the people that you love? The Caregiver Respite Grant Program is here to help you do just that!
Our Caregiver Respite Grant Program (CRGP) provides financial support for family caregivers for up to five days of respite care within a 90-day period. The grant helps you pay for one-on-one personal care from the caregiver of your choice for your loved one living with disabilities or special needs.
This grant is available when financial support through other caregiver support or long-term care waiver programs are not available or have been used up.
What’s even better is that you can reapply for this grant every 90 days if you need the time for your own self-care. What a great way to recharge your batteries or spend some one-on-one time with another family member or friend for up to 20 days per year!
Imagine being able to:
- Take a special day to spend with another child in your family for some one-on-one quality time so they feel important and loved.
- Going fishing with a buddy after years of not being able to do so because caring for your family member has required your constant attention.
- Just taking a few hours to get yourself a massage, run some errands, visit a park or catch up on some reading.
CAREGIVER RESPITE GRANT ELIGIBILITY OVERVIEW
To be eligible for the grant, you will need to have supporting documentation from the applicable Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or county showing:
- You’ve applied for Long-term Care Waiver support and are not expecting to receive services or approval within thirty (30) days of the application.
- You’ve applied for and been denied Long-term Care Waiver support that provides respite services.
- You’ve applied for and been approved for Long- Term Care Waiver support that provides respite services and have exhausted or will exhaust funding from those programs.
- You’ve applied for Long-Term Care Waiver support and need the flexibility to hire a friend or family member that is not covered by current funding support.
- You have not applied for Long-Term Care Waiver support, because you are not eligible.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CAREGIVER RESPITE GRANT
Please review the following steps and documents before applying for the Caregiver Respite Grant.
Read the CRGP Overview, and Policy and Procedure Document
Read the Caregiver Respite Grant Program (CRGP) Overview, Policy & Procedures Document.
This explains all of the eligibility requirements, application procedures, and additional resources to help you apply.
Step 1:
Complete and return the Caregiver Respite Grant Program (CRGP) Eligibility and Supporting Documentation Form.
We will review your CRGP Eligibility Form and let you know if you can move onto the next step of completing the CRGP Application. Please wait to hear from RCAW staff before completing the CRGP Application.
Step 2:
Complete the Caregiver Respite Grant Program (CRGP) Application Form.
Upon receiving word that you are eligible to apply, you can then complete the CRGP Application. Once we review your CRGP Application, we will let you know in writing if you’ve been approved or denied for the grant.
Step 3:
Complete the CRGP Grant Report.
When you receive your approval from RCAW of your Grant Application, you and your respite care provider must both sign the Grant Report Form. Once RCAW receives this form, RCAW will send the grant funds to the applicant to then pay the respite provider. When the care provider is a facility-based environment, RCAW will send the grant funds directly to the facility.
Step 4:
Complete the CRGP Satisfaction Survey.
The final step is to complete our satisfaction survey to let us know how you used the grant and how we could make this program better.
Respite, LTC & ADRC Resources:
Be sure to first check your eligibility with these programs before applying for the Caregiver Respite Grant Program.
- Family Care (Adults 18 and older)
- Include Respect I Self-direct (IRIS) (Adults 18 and older)
- Children’s Long-Term Care Support (CLTS)
- Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP)
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)
- Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program (AFCSP)
- Kinship Care
- Foster Care Support Services
For primary caregivers of children, use this Wisconsin County Contacts List to locate and contact your county representative for the CLTS Waiver Program or CCOP services.
For primary caregivers of adults or elderly, use this Wisconsin Aging & Disability Resource Center List to locate and contract your ADRC for LTC programs listed above.
Sample Caregiver Respite Worker Agreement
If you are hiring a respite care provider to care for your loved one, please feel free to use our Sample Caregiver Respite Worker Agreement as a guide.
CRGP FAQs
Am I eligible for the Caregiver Respite Grant Program?
Have you or the care recipient:
- Applied for Long-term Care Waiver support(s) or other programs and is not expecting to receive services or approval within thirty (30) days of the application?
- Applied for and been denied Long-term Care Waiver support(s) or other programs that provide respite services?
- Applied for and been approved for Long-term Care Waiver support(s) or other programs that provide respite services and have exhausted or will exhaust funding from said programs?
- Applied for Long-Term Care Waiver support and need the flexibility to hire a friend or family member that is not covered by current funding support?
- Not applied for Long-Term Care Waiver support, because you are not eligible?
If you answered “yes” to any of the statements above, you are potentially eligible for a Caregiver Respite Grant.
Do I have to hire a respite care provider from the respite registry in order to qualify for a grant?
No! Applicants may hire family, friends, respite agency providers, or neighbors. RCAW is not the employer of care providers and does not dictate who the primary caregiver hires to provide respite care. You can also use the services of local care facilities to provide respite care.
How many times a year can I apply for the Caregiver Respite Grant Program?
Applicants can reapply every 90 days.
MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the Caregiver Respite Grant Program, your eligibility, or other resources, please contact RCAW Project Manager, Rachel Watkins-Petersen.