Trends in caregiver support studied.(states offering service options to family caregivers)

Policymakers and program administrators have developed a newfound interest in learning about emerging trends in caregiver support. Forward-looking practices in caregiver support potentially could improve quality of care for adults who receive long-term care in their homes.

Eight states--Alabama, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington--were selected for in-depth examination, including interviews with program personnel. An AARP report studies three emerging trends in these states: caregiver assessment, consumer direction in family caregiver support services, and collaborations between the aging network and the health care system.

The study concluded that:

* While most states offer at least one consumer-directed service option to family caregivers, the amount of assistance provided and eligibility varies by state. Most states offer supplements for respite care--in-home care, adult day care or weekend or overnight stays in a long-term care facility--and supplemental services--home modifications, yard work, chore services and assistive devices. Amounts offered annually for respite vary, from $500 to $1,500 in Alabama, up to $3,500 in Minnesota and $3,600 in California.

* California's Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs), administered by the California Department of Mental Health, are the country's first state-funded programs providing explicit ...