Governor Robert Bentley announced his appointments to the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition to help develop the infrastructure for a statewide network of lifespan respite programs.

State Representative, Dr. Jim McClendon (St. Clair and Shelby County) who serves as Chair of the House Health Committee, has been appointed to the coalition.

The membership of the Governor-appointed coalition includes stakeholders throughout Alabama who will assist Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network ™ to increase caregiver access to respite in the state. Respite is a critical support service that can not only help those providing care at home to children and adults with health care needs by providing a short break from their daily responsibilities, but also allow their loved-ones to continue to live in their home.

Alabama’s more than 818,000 caregivers are caring for an adult at home, and many caregivers provide care for children who have a disability or chronic illness. These caregivers are providing over 800 million hours of unpaid care each year, saving the state more than an estimated $8 billion. Respite can make a world of difference in the primary caregiver’s ability to continue home care by reducing stress, alleviating caregiver burnout, and preventing potential abuse and neglect of the care recipient.  

Alabama Respite is a statewide program of United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley, Inc. To find out more about respite in Alabama, and how to become involved in efforts to increase respite for caregivers in Alabama, contact Linda Lamberth at:

alabamarespite@aol.com, or call 256 237 3683 (toll free 866 737 8252).