Erin Hommel, MD, Melissa Lockhart, PhD, APRN, GNP, and Andrea Wirt, MSN, GNP were awarded a 2020 President's Cabinet Award: Respite Care for Geriatric Patients - UTMB Geriatrics and St. Vincent's House

Caregiver burden is significant for families of geriatric patients. Following the success of a 2019 collaboration between the UTMB Geriatrics Department and the St. Vincent’s House Clinic, this project seeks to expand free respite care to all UTMB campuses. By providing more than 1,340 hours of free respite services, this program seeks to reduce caregiver stress, anxiety, and depression. Based on referrals from UTMB providers and social workers, contracted service providers from three local licensed agencies will be dispatched to urban and rural geriatric patient homes to assist and/or relieve caregivers. Caregivers participating in Galveston, Brazoria and Harris counties will have the option to choose half-day or full-day periods. Read more about this year's President Cabinet Award Winners.