LAP Respite Services are available to families living in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties who are caring for children or adults with disabilities, chronic illness, or age related conditions. To register for LAP services, family members may call LAP Respite Center at 517-372-6671.  LAP will then provide the family with an intake packet of forms that need to be completed and returned to the LAP office.  Once the LAP Program Managers receive this information they will work with the family members to create an individualized plan for care.  This care plan will be a guide to the trained Respite Care Providers employed by LAP to relieve the family caregivers. 

Respite services may be provided to families for a few hours or a few days, in the family home or at the Respite House, depending on the need and availability of service options. Respite is provided by prior arrangement or on an emergency basis for registered families.

All new LAP employees must successfully complete a thirty-two (32) hour training program.  Employees will learn specialized lifespan care techniques, specific procedures and skills, and ethics in providing quality care for people who have disabilities and age related conditions.  Care providers also study how to maintain the dignity of those whom they serve, the necessity of assuring the prevention of abuse or neglect, and to take pride in achieving a  job well done.   After the initial training and working with families, LAP Respite Care Providers will enhance their learning by obtaining continuing education credits each year.

Areas of Training Include:

• Recipient Rights
• Communication
• Daily Personal Care
• Seizures
• Dementia Care
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Eating, Feeding, Swallowing
• Health and Safety
• Universal Precautions
• Bloodborne Pathogen Training
• Challenging Behaviors
• Medication Training
• Family-Centered Planning
• Other care requirements

Other Care Provider Requirements include:

• Current Health Screen
• TB Test
• CPR and First Aid Certification
• Background Checks (criminal and abuse/neglect checks)
• Continuing Education Credits