Family Caregiver Support Program

The Family Caregiver Support Program, administered by each state, is one of the most helpful resources available for families providing care to an older relative.

This program can make it possible for an older relative to stay at home instead of having to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home. If you’re providing care in your home for a relative who is 60 years of age or older and has a moderate income, you may qualify.

Each state may tailor the Family Caregiver Support Program to meet the unique needs of its older population, but you’ll find that most offer:

Information to caregivers about available services
Assistance to caregivers in accessing supportive services
Counseling and training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems related to their caregiver roles
Respite care to temporarily relieve the caregiver (e.g., help with the cost of adult day services, intermittent or overnight respite care during an emergency, or in-home respite care)
Supplemental services to complement the family caregiver’s role (e.g., providing funds for home modifications like installing a ramp or a stair climb, or for obtaining assistive technologies, equipment, supplies, emergency response systems or transportation)

The program also provides caregiver support services to grandparents 55 years and older who are raising fully dependent grandchildren, and to older adults raising a dependent mentally or physically disabled adult child. To find a local Area Agency on Aging operating the Family Caregiver Support Program near you, call the Eldercare Locator at 1.800.677.1116 or go to eldercare.gov.