Respite in Student Engagement (RISE)
ASU students support families caring for a person living with dementia at home or in a facility
Respite in Student Engagement, or RISE, is a unique partnership between Arizona State University and Hospice of the Valley’s Supportive Care for Dementia (SCD) Program. RISE connects students with families to provide low-cost respite for caregivers and meaningful engagement for the person living with dementia in their home or in a facility.
Introduction & Community Need
Family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) face significant emotional, physical and financial burdens. Burnout is common, due to the constant demands of caregiving and the lack of personal time. Respite care — temporary relief for caregivers by engaging PLWD — has been proven to reduce stress, improve quality of life and delay institutionalization. However, current respite options are prohibitively expensive, typically ranging from $35 to $45 per hour, placing them out of reach for many families.
Program Description: The RISE Model
The innovative Respite in Student Engagement (RISE) program is a community-supported respite model that is sustainable and affordable.
Key components of the RISE Program:
- Student Recruitment: Undergraduate and graduate students (18+) in health-related fields from ASU or other colleges will be recruited to participate. Hospice of the Valley will screen families and interview and conduct background checks of students.
- Training: All participating students will receive eight hours of virtual and in-person, evidence-based dementia training provided by SCD clinical educators.
- Matching: A program coordinator will maintain a list of interested caregivers and qualified students to facilitate matches based on location and availability.
- Respite Services: Students will provide a minimum of two hours per week (no maximum) of in-home or facility respite care for engagement (no personal care or medication management) at a rate of $20 per hour, paid directly by caregivers to the student.
- Families who need personal care or medication management should contact one of the excellent home care agencies in the community.
- Support & Oversight: SCD will provide ongoing phone support to students and caregivers to ensure effective communication, safety and satisfaction.
Note: Students are not employees or contractors of ASU or Hospice of the Valley, and both organizations are indemnified from legal liability for the direct caregiving relationship.
If you are a student or family member interested in the program, please fill out the application below. We will then call you for more information and to answer your questions.
For questions, please email rise@hov.org or call 602-748-3692.