Adults and Seniors: Low-cost or Free Respite Care

Easter Seals Washington: a statewide organization that serves adults and children who have special needs. 800.678.5708. Respite programs include camps and family retreats.

Family Caregiver Support Program: Offers information on available services, assists in getting access to services, and may provide counseling, support groups, caregiver training, and respite care. Respite

care is usually on a sliding scale to provide financial support. You can search for a Family Caregiver Support Program in your county at Community Living Connections Washington State.

Lifespan Respite Washington Voucher Program: “mini-grants” in the form of vouchers for short-term respite with programs and agencies registered with Lifespan Respite WA. The online application is on the Voucher Program page.

Catholic Community Services of Western WA  offers services for seniors and individuals with disabilities in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish/Island, Clallam/Jefferson/Kitsap, King, Pierce, Mason/Lewis/Thurston, Grays Harbor/Pacific, and Wahkiakum/Cowlitz/Clark/Skamania counties. Each county or grouped counties location offers some type of services for seniors and individuals with disabilities who are in need of support services. Some of these services may provide a break or assistance for family caregivers. Types of services include but are not limited to: Home Care, Home delivered meals, Senior Housing, Senior Transportation, Volunteer Services, Volunteer Transportation, and Senior Nutrition. Not every county location will have all services.

Catholic Charities Eastern Washington offers chore services provided by volunteers to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Chore services can offer breaks to family caregivers as well as to those individuals getting services. They serve Spokane, Colville, Walla Walla, and Wilbur.

Hilarity for Charity and the Home Instead Senior Care network are working together to award in-home care grants to those providing care to their loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Hilarity for Charity is proud to have awarded over 211,000 hours of in-home respite care across the United States and Canada.

Senior Companion Program WA State: Trained, stipended volunteers aged 55+ assist elders who need services in their homes to live independently. Types of help may include, but are not limited to assistance with shopping, bill paying, help with understanding Medicare, caregiver respite help for individuals with Alzheimer’s, help with hospital discharge, arrange for needed support services and advocate for elders. Americorps funds the Senior Companion Program. Agencies and contacts:

Catholic Family & Child Service: Phone: 509-965-7100 Service Area: Benton | Franklin | Yakima | Walla Walla

Lutheran Community Services NW: Phone: 253-722-5686 Service Area: Kitsap | Pierce

Homage Senior Services: Phone: 425-513-1900 Service Area: King | Snohomish

The Aging Network Chore Program and Transportation assistance, administered through Washington’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) may be available in your county. AAA phone numbers for each county are available on this list from the Washington Care Planning Council.

WA State Developmental Disabilities Administration: Serves adults and children who have an intellectual or developmental disability. DDA administers Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers (HCBS), some of which offer respite as a benefit.

Informing Families is a family-friendly website from DDA about its services

Military and Veteran

State Department of Veterans Affairs: Offers up to 30 days per calendar year for family caregivers of veterans in their centers or in their communities.

Exceptional Family Member Program: Provides all four military branches with care and respite support for families with a member who has a special need or disability. When military respite is not available, military families should know they are also eligible to apply for civilian respite services while living in Washington State. See also: Finding Respite in Washington State.

Coast Guard Special Needs Program: provides Coast Guard family members who have special needs or a disability with care and support. Coast Guard families may also apply to civilian sources of respite care in Washington State. See also: Finding Respite in Washington State.

Your branch of service may have branch-specific resources for respite. Contact the Exceptional Family Member Family Support Office at your nearest installation or Coast Guard Special Needs Program by phone or email.

The Hope Fund: Critical Financial Assistance for Military and Veteran Caregivers

Not strictly for respite, the Hope Fund is for:

“financial relief to all eras of military and veteran caregivers through grants that aim to put military families on the path to financial wellness. These grants provide high-impact financial assistance to prevent or address a significant crisis or to improve the quality of life of the caregiver family. This financial relief fills the gaps that other programs may not cover, such as medical bills, natural disaster assistance, transportation for appointments, or loss of income. Caregivers who would benefit from assistance are strongly encouraged to apply. Please do not suffer through hardship when help is available.” -from Hidden Heroes/Hope Fund

Other programs which help provide respite for military and veteran families (listed on the Hidden Heroes website)

Veterans Affairs offers two different programs which support family members caring for a veteran. Both offer training and a wide range of supports such as peer mentor support (a caregiver who has ‘been there’ and can help you navigate caregiving), one-on-one or group coaching sessions, resource referral, and respite care.

Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)

“PGCSS is the core of VA’s Caregiver Support  Program (CSP). The program provides peer  support mentoring, skills training, coaching,  telephone support, online programs, and referrals to available resources to caregivers of Veterans. The Veteran must be enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and be receiving assistance from a caregiver  in order for the caregiver to participate.”

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

“PCAFC offers enhanced clinical support and services for caregivers of eligible Veterans who have a serious injury (or illness) and require in-person personal care services among other requirements. 

To enroll, please reach out to the facility Caregiver Support Team or request a referral from the  Veteran’s provider”