Impact of respite/support services on elderly adults with disabilities and their caregivers

Support service programs are needed to keep elderly adults with disabilities in the community. A pre/post design with retrospective comparison groups was used to evaluate respite service programs (Tampa: 24-hour in-home respite; Miami: community-based respite/support services). Participants included Veterans (Tampa: n=42, Miami: n=25) and their primary informal caregiver (CG) (Tampa: n=42, Miami: n=90). Comparison groups included Veterans who used VA inpatient respite (Tampa: n=36, Miami: n= 22). Veterans and their CGs were interviewed before and after receipt of services and comparisons were made on quality of life and satisfaction with care, Veteran functioning, and CG burden, benefits, and coping strategies, Health care utilization 3 months before and 3 months after respite service use was compared for Veteran participants and comparison groups. CGs were mostly female spouses (mean age: Tampa=56, Miami=67) of male Veterans (mean age: Tampa: 65, Miami=78). On average, CGs provided over 16 hours/day of care for over 6 ½ years. Satisfaction with services was rated high (means=29, of possible 32) by Veterans and CGs and both indicated that they would recommend the program and would come back if seeking help again. Significant improvements in CG burden and mental health were found after respite service use. Veteran program participants had significantly fewer inpatient admissions and shorter lengths of stay after respite than in the prior 3 months. Provision of either in-home 24-hour or community-based support services decreased CG burden, improved mental health, resulted in less inpatient health care use, and users were highly satisfied with services.