Introduction

Welcome to the Lifespan Respite Washington (LRW) website where unpaid family caregivers are offered the opportunity to receive short breaks.  Our state provides respite services through a variety of systems and programs.

Types of Respite

There are many types of respite care:

Traditional/formal respite care program – systems currently in place for specific groups of individuals; e.g., veterans, older persons, or individuals who have intellectual/developmental disabilities. Examples of these respite programs include the Veterans’ Administration, Family Caregiver Support Program, and respite through the Developmental Disabilities Administration. WA Respite Care Information

Non-traditional or creative respite – short breaks that are not necessarily paid for by any public system, these opportunities can still result in respite for caregivers; such as through camps, faith communities, parks/recreation programs, scouting and other clubs, parents night out, etc.

Lifespan Respite Voucher program – a federally funded grant to meet planned (not crisis) respite needs for unserved and unpaid family caregivers. Respite for caregivers is provided through respite provider agencies, versus individual providers.