Use of the Value of Respite Model for practical program evaluation

Two novel documents, Measuring the Value of Respite and a corresponding document, Recommended Common Data Elements for Respite Research, were developed by ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center and the Committee for the Advancement of Respite Research to provide a practical framework for respite research and to identify data elements and measures that align with the Value of Respite Model. Concurrent with the development of the two documents, four respite (short break) programs in the U.S used drafts of both The Value of Respite Model and Recommended Common Data Elements for Respite Research to guide and inform them in an 18-month program evaluation grant project. As part of the project, ARCH conducted semi-structured interviews with the four evaluation project grantees to assess their understanding of evaluation concepts and design, as well as the perceived utility of the Model and Recommended Common Data Elements for program evaluation. Three of the four programs also produced formal data summaries based on their evaluations. Together, the interviews and data summaries shed light on whether, how, and under what conditions the Value of Respite Model and Recommended Common Data Elements for Respite Research were useful to respite programs seeking to conduct practical program evaluation and document the value of the respite services they provided to family caregivers and care recipients.