S. 3231 — Respite CARE Act

This section establishes a grant program under Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 authorizing the Assistant Secretary for Aging to award grants to eligible entities—including state or local government agencies, nonprofits, area agencies on aging, multipurpose senior center providers, institutions of higher education, or Tribal organizations—for developing or expanding integrated caregiver support services. Such services provide respite care (i.e., care including health care and child care for a care recipient) to family caregivers (i.e., informal, non-professional adult providers of in-home or community-based care to older individuals, individuals with Alzheimer's or related disorders, or, as older relative caregivers, to children or individuals with disabilities) at the same time and in an integrated setting as supportive or support services described in section 373(b) of the act. Grant recipients must submit applications, use funds to ensure services are accessible (e.g., via assistive technology, translation, interpretation, or American Sign Language), and may provide respite care directly or by contract with health care providers or qualified child care providers.