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Respite services for children and adults are funded differently. The
funding generally determines the eligibility.
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Some programs require the
consumer to be eligible for MaineCare (Medicaid); some do not.
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Some programs only offer
respite services, some offer respite as one of many services that you
will receive if you are eligible for their program.
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As with all services funded
by community and state agencies, programs and eligibility for services
are always changing.
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If you carry private health
insurance, check if respite services are covered. Some insurances offer
limited coverage.
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There are not enough direct
care workers in Maine to provide respite, so often there is a waiting
list for services. In order to get respite services you should get your
name on the waiting list, even if you don't need respite at the moment.
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Even if you are found
eligible and allocated funds for respite services, there may still be a
wait for the respite service.
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Check if the agency that is
providing the respite worker does national background checks, trains,
and certifies workers and maintains a registry of workers. Some
agencies may only do some of these steps.
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Some agencies allow you to
select your own respite worker (a friend or neighbor), others may
restrict the selection from their own registered respite workers.
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Respite agencies pay in home
respite workers at different rates of pay. They are usually based on
the respite workers' skills and the level of needs of the consumer.
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The regional Area
Agencies on Aging (AAA) support respite services for elderly. Contact
your local (AAA) to see if funds are available for emergency respite
relief.
