Alzheimer's Caregiver Respite Voucher Program
The South Carolina Chapter provides short-term respite--time away from caregiving responsibility--for full-time family caregivers. A voucher for up to $500 worth of care is available each year. This program is possible thanks to funding through the SC Department of Mental Health.
With a respite voucher, family members are able to arrange care through approved home care agencies, adult day care, or temporary placement in a long term care facility. The approved agency or facility will bill the association for up to $500 worth of services. The respite program is not designed to pay for services on a long term basis and may not be applied retroactively. The voucher may not be used for private sitters.
Please note that our guidelines for voucher renewals have changed as of 9/19/11.
About Caregiver Stress
How to Apply
Voucher Renewal Eligibility
Assistance for Support Group Meetings and Other Events
About Caregiver Stress
The Alzheimer's Caregiver Respite Voucher Program is designed to provide relief to caregivers to lessen the physical, emotional and financial burdens associated with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Fulltime caregivers provide 24 hour a day care for their loved ones often without taking a break. As a result, the caregiver’s own physical and emotional health often suffers. Evidence suggests that elderly spousal caregivers who experience caregiver stress have a mortality rate 63% higher than average. High caregiver stress leads to the increased need to seek long-term care placement for the individual with Alzheimer’s disease.
Do you need a break? Take our caregiver stress check.
How to Apply
Application materials in PDF form are available to download and print below. The completed application form and completed doctor's statement must be sent together by mail. Please do not attempt to submit any part of the application via fax, as it will not be accepted.
If you keep these materials on file, please make sure they are up-to-date. Thank you!
Download respite application packet. - Updated 9-7-11
To receive an application packet by mail, please call 800-272-3900.
Caregivers are encouraged to begin using the respite voucher as soon as possible upon receipt. Each voucher expires six months from the date of issue, and remaining funds cannot be redeemed once a voucher's expiration date has passed. Due to the work load in the respite office, it is taking about three weeks to issue vouchers. Please be patient during this time.
Voucher Renewal Eligibility
Due to a tremendous rise in first-time respite applicants, respite voucher requests are currently exceeding our available funds. In an effort to reach as many families as possible with the respite care program, we will now issue only one respite voucher per patient per year, with the exception of first-time applicants who do not use their first respite voucher before it expires. Our new eligibility requirements are effective as of September 19, 2011.
Once a year has passed from the issue of your initial voucher, please submit the renewal request form below. The renewal form requires a signature of the family member requesting a renewal and the management of the respite agency. The renewal cannot be issued until we have been invoiced for the service dates of the first voucher issued.
Download renewal form. - Updated 9-7-11
When we receive a renewal application, we will pull the account information and check to see when the last voucher was issued. If it has been a year since that last voucher was issued, a renewal will be written. If not, the renewal form will be returned to you (or your agency) to submit again once you become eligible. Due to the work load in the respite office, it is taking about three weeks to issue renewals. Please be patient during this time.
If you have questions about eligibility, please call 864-224-3045.
Assistance To Attend Support Group Meetings and Other Events
If a no-cost, in-home patient sitter is needed so that the caregiver can attend a monthly support group meeting, education program or Alzheimer's Association event such as Walk to End Alzheimer's, additional respite assistance is available. Payment for this service does not count against your respite voucher. Sitters during support group must be arranged with a home care agency several days prior to the meeting. Call 800-272-3900 for more information.
