“You Deserve a Break Today” is not just a McDonald’s ad campaign; it’s a battle cry for caregivers everywhere.
In 2013, 39 percent of adults in the United States were caregivers, providing support to a loved one with health or daily living needs. Yet, in a 2011 national caregiver survey, 83 percent of caregivers struggled with finding sufficient respite care. If the need is so high, where is the supply?
In 2009, the estimated unpaid contributions of unpaid caregivers was $450 billion dollars – more than the entire Medicaid budget and more than the total sales of any of the world’s largest companies. The loss of even a small percent of those caregivers to burnout could have a huge impact on the overall costs of care.
Yet, caregiver burnout is significant. Family caregivers report much higher incidents of headaches, stomachaches, back pain, sleeplessness, depression, poor health and disability than before beginning their caregiving and as compared to the general population.
If burnout is the problem, both economically and personally, respite is one solution. Respite has been shown to reduce stress, improve family functioning and increase the caregiver’s positive regard for the loved one with a disability.
The support for the economic effectiveness of respite care is also overwhelming. A 2008 study by the University of Pennsylvania found that for every $1,000 a state spent in providing respite care for parents of children with autism, there was an 8 percent drop in hospitalization rates. Numerous other studies have shown that providing respite care significantly reduces the risk of (and costs associated with) nursing facility placement or other out-of-home placement for children, adults and elders with disabilities.
Again – if the need is so high and the benefits so great, where is the supply?
There are a lot of factors. The biggest barriers include lack of funding, lack of trained paid caregivers available to provide for the complex needs of some individuals with disabilities and the social isolation often experienced by individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. Crisis and emergency respite care is particularly difficult to find.
Nationally, organizations like ARCH National Respite Network are addressing these barriers at a funding and policy level. But families and paid caregivers in Southwest Colorado need respite care as well. While organizations like Community Connections are able to address some of the needs through Medicaid programs and the Tambo group respite program for children with disabilities, the needs are still greater than what the community is able to provide.
Efforts are underway to expand respite in Southwest Colorado. Families need more flexibility of respite options, and respite is desperately needed outside the Durango area. Community Connections is currently developing solutions and looking for funders and potential respite providers.
If you are interested in helping address this serious issue, either through donations, advocacy or by volunteering with the Tambo Respite Program, contact Community Connections at 259-2464 or www.communityconnectionsco.org.
Tara Kiene is the director of case management with Community Connections Inc.
