Interim Executive Director of SEIU 775 Benefits Group Abby Solomon receives a $30,000 contribution from Amerigroup Washington President Craig Smith. This contribution will be used to develop and offer respite care online training.

Interim Executive Director of SEIU 775 Benefits Group Abby Solomon receives a $30,000 contribution from Amerigroup Washington President Craig Smith. This contribution will be used to develop and offer respite care online training.

Amerigroup Washington has donated $30,000 to SEIU 775 Benefits Group to create online training modules for respite caregivers to help address their unique needs and to ultimately provide stress relief for long-term caregivers.

“We applaud the SEIU 775 Benefits Group for giving consumers access to high quality health care, and through their efforts being able to provide these online trainings accessible 24/7 in order to simplify the complexities for caregivers who are caring for loved ones,” says Craig Smith, president of Amerigroup Washington.

Respite caregivers play an important role in supporting home health care aides, because they allow caregivers the opportunity to take a break from the significant work around caring for individuals with a disability or who are aging. By allowing caregivers to take a break, respite care can help reduce stress levels. These short breaks provide temporary relief to ensure that the regular caregiver is rested and prepared for the ongoing demands of being a caregiver, explains a media release from Amerigroup Washington.

“Better preparing respite caregivers will help both the caregiver stepping in and the caregiver taking a break,” states Abby Solomon, interim executive director of SEIU 775 Benefits Group, in the release. “When caregivers can step away and recharge and know their client will be well taken care of, that does a lot to reduce stress.”

“We thank Amerigroup for their $30,000 contribution, which will allow us to train and empower respite caregivers to bring respect and dignity for those Washingtonians who are being cared for, while also provide stress relief for caregivers,” she adds.

[Source(s): Amerigroup Washington, Business Wire]