How-tos, Information, Guides and Tools

Finding Respite in Washington State (online document)

NEW! A Family Caregiver Decision Guide: This downloadable or online guide leads you through essential steps to help families make decisions about a family member’s care.

Hiring an in-home care provider (online documents): This can be a difficult decision. These guides help families through the process:

• Potential questions to ask a Respite Provider Agency
• “The ABCs of Respite for Family Caregivers” – The ARCH National Respite Network & Resource Center provides this checklist and narrative to use in locating, interviewing, and hiring a personal care provider to meet family needs.  It may also be of use in maintaining quality care once you have located a provider.

Pathways to Respite Toolkit (online document and tool): This online tool offers definitions, information, resources, and check-lists for care givers in WA. The Pathways to Respite Toolkit is a good place to start conversations among families, for care givers, and to support one another. 

Dementia Road Map-A Guide for Families and Care Partners is produced by Dementia Action Collaborative, WA.

Dementia Legal Planning Toolkit: to help individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia think about the kinds of financial and health care decisions that need to be made. Includes some do-it-yourself legal forms to get started. Produced by Dementia Action Collaborative, WA.

Get it online at WashingtonLawHelp.org: Dementia Legal Planning Toolkit

Free paper copies: Order Form for Paper Version of Dementia Legal Planning Toolkit

Powerful Tools for Caregivers (class) (PTC) is a national program designed to assist family caregivers to find harmony and practice self-care. To find out if there is a PTC class near you, contact your local Family Caregivers Support Program.

Medicaid or Medicare, Which Covers Long-Term Care? (document): A short and specific comparison for individuals and family caregivers on which services are covered by each program. Courtesy of Pierce County Washington’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), part of the Aging and Disability Resource Centers network across WA State. Find your area’s ADRC at Community Living Connections.

How-to Caregiving Videos: Caregiving Skills and Medication Management Series from Family Caregiver Alliance

Updated Video: Using Respite During Covid

Organizations and Websites

ARCH National Respite Network (organization, website): ARCH assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs; to help families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities; and to serve as a strong voice for respite in all forums. Information, training, connections for families and the professionals who serve them.

Community Living Connections (website): Washington residents can learn about and access the full range of private and public long-term service and support options. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or help for a loved one, it will be easy to locate services that best fit your needs through the Community Living Connections resource website, “Get Care“.

Family Caregiver Alliance (organization, website): FCA has an extensive set of information for caregivers, with topics ranging from Advanced Illness through Out of Home Care and including Intimacy and Working with Siblings. (We have several of their Caregiver College videos on our post “How-to Caregiving Videos). Note: their website focuses on caring for adults. Many of their resources are available in several languages.

Informing Families (website) is a resource provided by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, in partnership with the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

For specific conditions:

Dementia:

“Let’s Talk Dementia“: Six brief videos featuring Washingtonians with dementia and their care partners, talking about the value of early diagnosis and what they suggest for living well with dementia. Courtesy of Dementia Action Collaborative.