Lifespan Respite Care Program Grant
The South Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Long Term Services and Supports was awarded a 5-year extension (07/01/2021 to 06/30/2026) of its Lifespan Respite Care Program federal grant through the Administration for Community Living. The purpose of the project is to build a sustainable lifespan respite care program accessible to caregivers regardless of age, disability or chronic condition of the care receiver. Through partnerships with community, state (i.e., Division of Developmental Disabilities, Rehabilitation Services), and federal (i.e., Veteran's Administration) agencies and organizations, the South Dakota Respite Coalition was formed. The website can be found by clicking here.
What is Lifespan Respite?
Respite is taking a break from the daily responsibility of providing care to a family member or another loved one, who due to aging, disability, or chronic illness, needs ongoing assistance and support.
Lifespan Respite is available for an unexpected caregiver crisis, an emergency situation or another immediate need for respite (e.g., caregiver medical emergency or unplanned medical appointment or surgery or another unplanned event, or to attend a funeral, or for time needed due to caregiver exhaustion or stress).
Who is eligible for Lifespan Respite?
Primary caregivers who provide unpaid care to a care recipient, of any age, due to issues related to aging, disability, or chronic illness including but not limited to the following:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Brain Injury, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, COPD, Dementia, Developmental Disability, Developmental Delay (birth to age 3), Epilepsy, Heart Disease, Huntington's Disease, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Sclerosis, Paraplegia, Parkinson's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Serious Emotional Disturbance (under age 18 years), Severe and Persistent Mental Health diagnosis, Stroke.
The Lifespan Respite Program does not replace respite services available through other Department of Human Services programs, i.e., Division of Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). Note: Lifespan Respite is to be used only after the appropriate DHS Respite Programs have been fully utilized, i.e., HCBS Waiver Services, LTSS Caregiver Program, Under 60 Respite Services, Grandparent-Relative Caregiver Services.
Lifespan Respite may not be used to:
- Pay the caregiver directly for the care he/she is providing to the care recipient;
- Pay for the care of a care recipient so the caregiver can work; or
- Pay for routine or ongoing adult day or day care costs.