Information to Share with Caregivers About Locating Respite Resources in King County

II. Who To Call When You Are Looking For Respite Services

Caregivers or family members who provide on-going assistance or support to a child, youth, or adult who is unable to maintain his or her own health and well-being can seek respite services for assistance. There are in-home and community-based services available that can provide a needed "time out" for caregivers. Because caregiving can become overwhelming and some programs may have waiting lists, it is a good idea to become familiar with the respite and caregiver assistance programs in your community before you need them. 

General Respite Information

Social service agencies that serve the public may have information about respite care for the groups they serve. In addition, they may provide respite care or maintain lists of respite workers. They may also offer assistance locating respite care or help find funding for services. If you are seeking respite for a person from a specific ethnic or cultural group, the agencies that serve these groups are an important contact in your search for respite care.

Many health organizations dedicated to a specific disease or disability, such as the Multiple Sclerosis Association, Alzheimer's Association, and Down Syndrome Association, can provide services, information, and assistance to caregivers. Most offer educational materials, classes, information, and support groups. Some may also provide special services like counseling and case management, respite care or transportation. In some instances, these organizations may provide assistance and services not available any other place. They are "experts" for the disability or disease populations they serve and can provide specialized information about where to find and how to choose respite care and other services caregivers may need. Some organizations may provide money or grants for services, including respite care. Contacting the health organization associated with your relative’s illness or disability may be a helpful first step. 

Senior centers, hospitals, community centers, and family resource centers also provide assistance to caregivers and may be a resource when you are seeking respite care. They may have social workers or care managers who will provide resource information or coordination of services. They may also offer transportation, education programs, legal and insurance advisors, counseling, and support groups. It is a good idea to contact the senior, community, or family resource center nearest you to check out their services for caregivers. Contact Senior Information and Assistance at 1 (888) 435-5748 or the Community Information Line at (206) 461-3200 for a listing of the centers in your area.

King County Respite Information

In King County, there are fee-for-service, volunteer, and government-sponsored services. For help finding the most appropriate service for you, call the Senior Information and Assistance Line at (206) 448-3110 or the Community Information Line at (206) 461-3200.

If you are a caregiver of a child or adult with a developmental disability in King County, call The Arc of King County Information and Referral Line at (206) 364-8384.

When arranging for services, it is useful to have the following information on hand:

• Age of care recipient

• Social Security number, telephone number and address of person needing services

• Information about income and financial resources

• Health insurance; name and telephone number of physician

• Nature of illness or disability and supervision needs

• How much and what kind of help is needed

• What services are currently being used and who is providing them

• Ability to pay for care or the need for subsidized services

Caregivers are often asked for the same information over and over again when contacting health and social service agencies for assistance. It is helpful to compile a notebook where important personal information, phone numbers, documents, and notes are kept. The following is a list of helpful information to include in your notebook:

• Pertinent medical, legal, and financial information

• Social security number

• Powers of attorney

• Insurance policy information

• Health providers

• List of medications

To ensure that the respite worker or day health provider has all the information they need to provide good care to your family member, also document medication schedules, daily routines, and personal care needs – and be sure to include any special preferences. Senior Information and Assistance has a form you can use to keep a list of the above information. Call 1 (888) 435-3377 to have copies mailed to you.

Also available for download in Word (405KB) and PDF (396KB) formats.
Right click the link and select "Save Target As" to save to your computer.
Microsoft Word Viewer (or Word equivalent) or Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view downloaded versions.

For more information about the Respite and Crisis Care Coalition of Washington
Contact Mary Jo Magruder at (206) 364-4645 x7010
or email at mjmagruder@arcofkingcounty.org

Resources for this web site and resource guide provided by The Arc of King County