Family Caregiver Service Model Implemented in Denver

For over 15 years, Denver Options has been a strong proponent of paying family members to provide care to persons enrolled in the Supported Living Services (SLS) program. The SLS program provides services and supports, such as personal care, housekeeping, supported employment, day habilitation, transportation, and many other services to persons who live with their families or in their own home. There are currently over 130 family members receiving payment to provide Supported Living Services.

The Comprehensive Services program provides many of the same services as the SLS program, plus 24-hour residential care. Traditionally, a person enrolled in the Comprehensive Services program was required to move out of their family home in order to receive this 24-hour care. Often times, persons who may have needed 24-hour residential care remained in the SLS program because their family did not want to place them out of their home.

In November 2010, the Division for Developmental Disabilities approved the Family Caregiver model of service delivery, which allows persons receiving 24-hour comprehensive residential services to remain in their family home. Families can be paid to provide some or all of the residential services for their loved one, or services can be provided by a combination of family caregivers and paid staff.

Denver Options was among the first Community Centered Boards to utilize the Family Caregiver model. We have several families who are currently using the model and several more families who are in the planning process. Some families have chosen to receive no payment, but instead have staff that comes into the home to provide services, while others are receiving payment for providing services.

Offering the Family Caregiver model in Comprehensive Services is just a natural expansion of Denver Options’ long-standing practice of paying family members to provide services under the SLS program. Families interested in the Family Caregiver model of service delivery should contact their service coordinator at (303) 636-5600 for more details.