Toevs publishes report on caregiver respite

This report compiles findings and recommendations from the 2024 Respite Research Summit. Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers - providing them with time to rest and recharge away from their caregiving duties.

"Respite is not just a 'feel good' service, but extends the ability of a caregiver to provide care at home," Toevs said.

The report summarizes several key respite themes including: caregiver-centered approaches, building research capacity in respite programs, and addressing systemic and structural barriers. The conference sessions reviewed in this report highlight national and local respite and caregiving research.

Most institutional long-term care in Idaho is paid by Medicaid at a cost of $8,000 to $15,000 per month, Toevs said. Without the one in four Idaho family caregivers providing unpaid support to individuals with physical, intellectual, or cognitive disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic illness or kinship care, taxpayers would foot the bill for many more individuals.

"Respite helps keep families together and from an economic perspective, saves taxpayers in Idaho money," Toevs said.

Based on findings from the 2025 statewide survey of caregivers in Idaho, 29% of caregivers provide care more than 40 hours per week. Offering respite and measuring the impact of support is critical, Toevs said.

The Idaho Caregiver Alliance, a grant-funded initiative housed in Boise State's School of Population and Public Health, provides caregiver support across the lifespan. Learn more about Toevs' work, the Idaho Caregiver Allinace and the Family Care Navigator.

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