The Legislature finds that there is a clear need to establish a program of respite care to assist families in the care of their elderly and functionally impaired family members. Most functionally impaired adults prefer to be cared for in their homes by family and friends whom they trust and feel comfortable with, and where they can continue to make valuable contributions to family life. Nearly all of the care provided to functionally impaired adults is given by family members who are not compensated for their services. They provide full-time care, often with little help from other family members or the community. This family involvement is a critical element in enabling persons who otherwise might be institutionalized to remain in their own home environment. Without relief and support, however, caregivers may become unable to continue in the caregiving role. The consequence may be unavoidable and irreversible institutionalization of the dependent adult and an added burden on public funds.

The Legislature further finds that there is a compelling need to support caregivers of functionally impaired adults in their efforts to keep the family intact. Providing respite and related services is a major mechanism for this support. Respite serves to relieve some of the daily stresses of caregiving, to improve the quality of life for functionally impaired adults and their caregivers, to maintain the integrity of the family unit, to strengthen personal and social support systems and to deter institutionalization.

The Legislature, therefore, declares that it is the policy of the State to provide a structure for the establishment of respite services which will provide relief and support to family or other unpaid caregivers from the demands of daily care of frail elderly or other functionally impaired adult family members; to encourage families to provide care for functionally impaired dependents at home, and thus offer an alternative to long-term institutional placement; to expand the continuum of supportive services for the functionally impaired and their families; to ensure that respite care and related supportive services are made available on a sliding fee basis to eligible persons not covered under other programs; and to assist families in securing the respite services, including information and peer support, which are necessary for their continued care of a functionally impaired family member.

L. 1987, c. 119, s. 1.