Respite Care

HIV/STD Program

HIV/STD Program

HIV Medical and Support Service Categories

Respite Care

Service Standard

Respite Care Service Standard print version

Texas Department of State Health Services, HIV Care Services Group – HIV/STD Program

SubcategoriesService Units
Adult    Per hour
Child Living with HIVPer hour
Respite CarePer hour

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Description

Respite Care is the provision of periodic respite care in community or home-based settings that includes non-medical assistance designed to provide care for a HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP)-eligible client to relieve the primary caregiver responsible for their day-to-day care.

Program Guidance

Recreational and social activities are allowable program activities as part of a respite care service provided in a licensed or certified provider setting, including drop-in centers within HIV Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services or satellite facilities.

Limitations

Agencies may not use funds for off-premises social or recreational activities or to pay for a client’s gym membership. Agencies may not fund informal respite care. HRSA does not permit direct cash payments to clients.  

Services

Services funded under this category relieve primary caregiver(s) responsible for providing day-to-day care. A caregiver is defined as someone who cares for a person living with HIV.

Universal Standards

Service providers for Respite Care must follow HRSA/DSHS Universal Standards 1-63 and 202-205  

Service Standards and Measures

The following standards and measures are guides to improving health outcomes for people living HIV throughout the State of Texas within the Ryan White Part B and State Services Program.

StandardMeasure

Client Intake: Agency staff must initiate an intake within five business days of the referral to include the following: 

  • The client’s primary caregiver
  • The needs of the client, as applicable
  • Documentation supporting the need for respite care
  1. Percentage of clients with documentation of an intake completed within five business days of the referral.
     
  2. Percentage of clients with documentation of the need for respite care.

Plan of Care: Staff must document all services provided, and the agency must maintain this documentation in the client’s files. Documentation must include:

  1. The time and date of each service provided
  2. The duration of services
  3. The setting or method of service delivery

When staff identify a need outside the scope of Respite Care, staff should refer the client to appropriate medical or support services.

  1. Percentage of clients with documentation of services provided, including:
    1. The time and date of each service
    2. The duration of services
    3. The setting or method of service delivery
       

Discharge: The agency and client will collaborate on a discharge plan for any clients leaving services. Staff must document the reason for discharge in the plan, which may include:

  • The client no longer needs services
  • The services needed are outside the scope of respite care
  • The client has moved out of the area
  • Unacceptable client behaviors as defined per agency policy
  • The client has not attended or received respite care per agency policy and procedure
  • The client is deceased
  1. Percentage of discharged clients with a discharge plan that includes the reason for discharge.

References

Division of Metropolitan HIV/AIDS Programs, HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) National Monitoring Standards for RWHAP Part A Recipients. Health Resources and Services Administration, March 2025.

Division of State HIV/AIDS Programs, HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) National Monitoring Standards for RWHAP Part B Recipients. Health Resources and Services Administration, March 2025.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Policy Notice 16-02: Eligible Individuals & Allowable Uses of Funds. Health Resources & Services Administration, October 22, 2018.