More to come!
What is respite care?
Short-term care that provides relief for caregivers or family members caring for people with disabilities.
How does respite care work?
Some people or families work with respite care companies or agencies that pay the caregiver on behalf of the family. Many families usually need more help than most typical families so this helps families sustain a healthier, happier life. So instead of the caregiver being privately paid by the family, they would get paid by the respite agency.
More info:
In the state of Colorado (and some other states) people with certain special needs or disabilities can apply and be placed on a Medicaid waiver. If you’re placed on a waiver that includes respite care as a service, you are given a certain amount of respite hours each year.
To be qualified or hired as a respite caregiver, what is needed?
- You need to be at least 18 years old
- Be first aid and CPR certified.
- Background check
- Complete timely documention
(Respite companies can provide more information and they are all very willing to answer any questions. The family you are interested in working with should be able to help you too.)
How much would I get paid?
This can vary and change from year to year. In the state of Colorado, the current hourly rate for respite is between $20 to $23 an hour (you can talk with the family you are interested in working with to get clarity around the rate).
If the family has a service called Community Connector added to their waiver, you could also earn more. This rate can also vary and it’s currently around $33 to $37 an hour (how many hours you can do, depends on what is given to the family – ex: it could be 2 hours or it could be 10 hours a week)
Why work with a respite agency/company? Incentives?
Getting paid by an agency could provide more job security. We all know this world can be challenging with layoffs happening here and there. When you are being paid by an agency, this could provide some relief to you as a caregiver.