Budget Cuts Shut Down 50-Year Sweetwater County Home Respite Care Program

A Sweetwater County respite care program that has for nearly 50 years helped elderly and disabled people stay in their homes will shut down at the end of March after its funding was slashed.

Operated by the nonprofit Volunteer Information and Referral Service Respite Care, the program provides in-home support such as meal preparation, bathing assistance, and relief for full-time caregivers, allowing clients to avoid more costly nursing facilities.

“It just came to the point that we had to see the writing on the wall,” said VIRS Executive Director Melissa Searle. “Next year we don’t even know if there will be county funds, so it was just, unfortunately, the demise of us.”

County officials say the cuts are part of broader efforts to adjust to declining revenue from property tax reductions, mineral production and other sources. Funding for outside organizations was among the first areas reduced because the county is not legally required to support them, Sweetwater County Commissioner Taylor Jones said.

County property tax revenue alone is down about $1.3 million. Sweetwater County provided $104,500 to VIRS in fiscal year 2024 and $99,000 in 2025. That dropped to $49,500 in fiscal year 2026. Most outside agencies saw similar reductions of about half, County Clerk Cindy Swenson said.

Unlike traditional home health providers, the respite program focuses on nonmedical, day-to-day support not covered by Medicaid or Medicare. About 45 clients receive direct care, with roughly 130 people total relying on VIRS when families receiving respite services are included. The agency has long maintained a waiting list of at least 50.

Private in-home care often costs about $30 an hour. VIRS charges on a sliding scale, with the highest rate at $10. “We can’t ask our clients, who are already on such a fixed income, to pay more,” Searle said.

As funding declined, the organization reduced staffing and wages. The office is down to two employees, while 10 certified nursing assistants have gone five years without raises and are paid below typical CNA wages.

“We’ve really applied for every grant that we can possibly qualify for,” Searle said. “There’s only so much fundraising that you can do.”

County officials are exploring whether some services can be absorbed through the Health and Human Services Department, though Commissioner Jones acknowledged they likely cannot cover 100% of what VIRS provides.

For Searle, the hardest part is the families left to fill the gaps. “The sad thing is, most of the time you don’t see these people asking for help,” she said. “They just kind of do their thing and hope for the best.”

After nearly five decades, she added, “It’s heartsick. It just breaks my heart.”