New AZ Respite Care Bill – Help for Caregivers

 Good news. 

Thanks to the efforts spearheaded by Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) under the capable and dedicated leadership of VIP Executive Team member Bonnie Danowski,  herself a family caregiver, the Arizona legislature has passed and Governor Janet Napolitano has signed new legislation which establishes the Lifespan Respite Care Program.  The law appropriates $500,000 for respite care for Arizona families who do not qualify for other state assistance.

With this legislation the State of Arizona has become one of only five states in the U. S. to offer a formalized respite care program.

“This is a wonderful development.  It gives family caregivers another opportunity to get the help they need.  We are very fortunate in our state to have leaders who understand the demands on and needs of caregivers,” notes Donna Heppermann, Director of the Generations program  at Beatitudes Center DOAR.

Of course, our Generations program, under Donna’s capable leadership  has been in the forefront of providing resources and support to family caregivers since its inception in 1985.   And through our VICaP Faith in Action program, volunteers provide up to 2 1/2 hours per week of respite care for family caregivers free of charge.

While Donna may be too modest to say so, let’s give credit where credit is due.  It is because of her leadership in running our Generations program, our founder Dr. Dosia Carlson’s recognition that respite care was an important service to include in our VICaP Faith in Action program, their  advocacy as well as the advocacy of our Executive Director Elizabeth Burnstein Banta in representing the needs of aging adults on various committees and forums over the years–and others like them– that has raised public and policymaker awareness of the needs of family caregivers and has supported the efforts to address the issues.

And make no mistake about it, family caregiver issues are or will touch most of us.  According to AARP’s press release of June 28, 2007 re the AZ respite-care bill, there are 570,000 family caregivers in Arizona, and nationwide 80% of all longterm care is provided by familes.  Indeed, a study by the National Alliance for Caregivers and MetLife  estimates that the loss to productivity to U. S. business due to family caregiving responsibilities reaches a staggering $34 billion per year, an average per employee of $2,110.  

Beatitudes Center DOAR is committed to continue to address the issues and to  do something about them.  We invite you to join us.  Contact us at 602 274-5022 to find out how you can:

Schedule our program for your employees “Are You Feeling Like a Sandwich?” which addresses family caregiving issues,  accessing community resources, improving effective family communication and resolving family tensions.

Get  a schedule of our Generations caregiver support groups, workshops and retreats as well as to access caregiver resources and information. 

Find out how you can  help provide  a “timeout” break for a caregiver through our VICaP Faith in Action program.

Obtain  information on how you can become a donor, supporting the services provided to family caregivers through Beatitudes Center Doar.