Caring for a person with dementia is a 24-hour a day responsibility that can exhaust a caregiver physically, emotionally and financially.

What is Respite?

Respite is an interval of rest or relief, a break for caregivers. Respite services allow caregivers the time to do necessarey and normal activities that make them better able to give quality care.

The Respite Care Assistance Program of the Mid-Missouri Chapter provides financial assistance to families of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The family caregiver is responsible for the selection and arrangement of the respite provider.

Eligibility

There is no income requirement for program eligibility. The primary caregiver and person with dementia must

• reside together within the 29 counties of the Mid-Missouri Chapter.
• provide a statement from a treating or diagnosing physician that the person has Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder (form included in application) 
• provide a recommendation for respite services from a treating physician or social service agency (form included in application) 
• Submit this completed application

Respite Reimbursement

Respite reimbursement from the Alzheimer's Association Mid Missouri Chapter is applicable for services and products that enable families to provide care for loved ones with dementia at home.  Participants will submit receipts, vouchers, or sales slips no later than the 10th of each month.  Reimbursement checks will be mailed on or near the 15th of each month.   Submissions received after the cutoff date will be carried over to the following month.  However, the Alzheimer's Association can reimburse no more than two month’s expenses at any one time. 

Services may include

1.  Caregiver respite – providing for substitute care while the family caregiver takes a break
2.  Products or services which may include:

• Medications (dementia specific)
• Incontinence supplies
• Nutritional supplements
• Safety products (including MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return)

Respite Application and Physicians Statement (pdf)

Questions? Please contact Pam Richmond at 573.443.8665 or e-mail pam.richmond@alz.org