(1) The department and the area agency on aging (AAA) must first consider requests for emergency respite care. An example of an emergency is when the caregiver becomes ill or injured to the extent that the caregiver's ability to care for the care receiver is impaired. AAA policies will determine how best to serve caregivers in crisis depending on available local FCSP funding. A caregiver must be screened in TCARE® within thirty days following the crisis if ongoing services exceeding five hundred dollars are requested.

(2) In nonemergency situations, respite care is allocated based upon the results of the TCARE® assessment and available local FCSP funds. If sufficient funds are not available when an eligible caregiver requests services, AAA may establish wait lists to prioritize clients receiving services as funding becomes available.