Many individuals search for information on caregiver compensation through Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) programs, particularly wondering, “how much does oklahoma dhs advantage program pay care givers?”. It’s important to clarify that while the Oklahoma DHS Advantage Program offers crucial services for seniors and individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes, it doesn’t directly pay family caregivers in the way some might expect. Instead, for those caring for loved ones and needing temporary relief, the Oklahoma DHS offers respite care services through the Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Program. This program provides financial assistance to caregivers, not as direct payment from the Advantage Program, but as a separate support system.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is designed to provide temporary relief for family caregivers from their ongoing caregiving responsibilities. Caring for a loved one can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also demanding and can lead to caregiver burnout. Respite services offer a much-needed break, allowing caregivers to attend to their own needs, whether it’s for rest, errands, work, or simply personal time.
Respite care plays a vital role in strengthening families and promoting the well-being of caregivers. By offering temporary support, it helps prevent caregiver exhaustion and can often delay or even eliminate the need for more intensive and costly care options like institutionalization or nursing home placement for care recipients. Sooner SUCCESS staff are available to guide you through the resources and information available about Respite programs in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Program
To address the consistent need for respite care across Oklahoma, Sooner SUCCESS manages the Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Program. This program is funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Administration on Aging (AoA), and is administered by DHS Aging Services. The Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher program is specifically designed to assist caregivers who may not qualify for other respite programs, offering a crucial support system to those who need it most.
Through this program, eligible caregivers can receive respite vouchers. These vouchers are not direct payments to caregivers for their own work, but rather, they empower caregivers to hire respite providers to care for their loved ones temporarily.
Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Eligibility Guidelines
To be eligible for the Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher program, both the caregiver and the care receiver must meet specific criteria:
Caregiver Eligibility:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must be an unpaid, full-time caregiver.
- Grandparents or other relatives aged 54 or younger who are raising a child full-time can also be eligible.
- Must not be receiving respite services or payments from other programs, including but not limited to foster care, Family Support Assistance Payment, Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-E, or ODMHSAS Systems of Care funding.
- Must have an annual household adjusted gross income limit of $125,000.
Care Receiver Eligibility:
- Must be an Oklahoma resident.
- Must be between the ages of birth and 59.
- Must require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) to remain at home in the community, or have neurological and organic brain dysfunction such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or traumatic brain injury.
- Must not qualify for respite services or payments through any other program, including but not limited to DHS Developmental Disability Services, SSI-DCP, OAA Title III-E, ADvantage waiver program, Medicare-funded home health services, or hospice.
How Respite Vouchers Work & Potential Support Amount
The Lifespan Respite Voucher Program provides eligible caregivers with vouchers that can be used to pay for respite care services. It’s important to note that the program does not directly pay family caregivers as employees. Instead, it offers financial assistance to access temporary care for their loved ones.
Eligible caregivers can receive up to $300 worth of respite vouchers. These vouchers are intended to be utilized within a 3-month period to provide flexible and timely respite care. This amount is designed to offer short-term, meaningful support to caregivers, enabling them to arrange for temporary care and take essential breaks.
Where Can Respite Care Happen?
Respite care services offered through the voucher program are flexible and can be provided in various settings to best suit the needs of the caregiver and care receiver. Respite care locations can include:
- The caregiver’s home
- Someone else’s home
- A center-based program
- An adult day services center
- A nursing facility
The location of respite care is determined by mutual agreement between the caregiver and the respite care provider, ensuring a comfortable and appropriate environment for the care receiver.
Who Can Be A Respite Care Provider?
Caregivers have the flexibility to choose who provides respite care for their loved one. A respite care provider can be:
- A family member
- A friend
- A church member
- Staff from a center-based program
- Staff from a care center
However, to be a respite care provider under this program, individuals must meet certain requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must have a social security number and a social security card.
- Must not reside in the caregiver’s home.
Contact Sooner SUCCESS for Help
If you are a caregiver in Oklahoma and believe you might be eligible for the Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher program, or if you simply need assistance in finding respite care options, Sooner SUCCESS is here to help. You can reach out to them to start the application process and receive guidance.
To learn more about the program and apply, please contact Sooner SUCCESS:
- Phone: 405-271-2710 or 1-877-441-0434
- Email: [email protected] (Please remember to include your county of residence in your email)
“One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.” ~ Jim Rohn
The Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher program, funded by the ACL AoA and monitored by DHS Aging Services and operated by OUHSC Sooner SUCCESS, stands as a testament to the value of caregivers and the importance of providing them with the support they need to continue their invaluable work.
