VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Lifespan Respite Grant Coalition and the North Dakota Association of Community Providers are co-hosting eight regional community conversations between Jan. 28 and Feb. 10 to share information about in-home services that can help children with special needs and adults who need assistance to remain living at home and in their communities.
Regional meetings will be held in Casselton, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Hazen, Larimore, Rugby, Valley City, and Williston at senior centers and other locations. Each will last three hours and features two presentations.
Family members and professional caregivers, in-home service providers, hospital discharge planners, professionals who work with vulnerable individuals, faith community leaders, other community leaders, and other interested individuals are invited to attend.
“Family caregivers occasionally need support in the form of a temporary break from caregiving responsibilities. Paid respite care provides that needed break. Helpful programs are available, including the Lifespan Respite Grant program, and we encourage people to attend to learn more,” said Aging Services Division Director Nancy Nikolas Maier.
Mary Weltz of the North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division will lead the opening session: “Regional Caregiver Forum: Caregiving for All Ages.” This discussion will focus on available services, service gaps, and programs that can benefit family caregivers by helping pay for respite care or by providing education and information so family members can provide care with confidence.
After the caregiver forum, Angela Dinius of the North Dakota Association of Community Providers and Lisa Murry, a nurse and owner of Elevate Nursing – a qualified service provider agency, will lead a “Qualified Service Provider Town Hall Discussion on In-home Supports.”
Qualified service providers include individuals such as friends, neighbors, and family members, as well as agencies, who are approved to provide paid in-home care and support including personal care (bathing, feeding, dressing, etc.), homemaker services (cleaning and laundry), respite care, and other approved services for people with physical disabilities who want to continue to live in their own homes and communities.
This presentation will share information that will benefit people seeking in-home support and people who may want to consider working as a qualified service provider on a full-time or part-time basis or becoming an agency provider.
No registration is required. However, for planning purposes, individuals interested in attending are encouraged to email Angela at workforce@ndacp.org.
A community conversation is set for January 30th in Valley City at the AmericInn from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.