This program provides support to unpaid caregivers caring for elderly relatives, or to older caregivers of younger family members. The purpose of the program is to help minimize the negative emotional, physical, and financial consequences of unpaid family caregiving.

Who are the Eligible Caregivers under the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP)?

Information Services provide public information on caregiving and/or community education on caregiving, including information about available services:

• Public Information designed to provide information
  about available FCSP services and other caregiver support resources and services.
• Community Education Activities are designed to educate the community and community groups of current or potential caregivers and those who may provide them with assistance about available Family Caregiver Support Program and other caregiver support resources and services.

Access Assistance services provide caregiver information assistance and caregiver legal resources:

• Caregiver Outreach Contacts services provide caregivers with information on services available and link caregivers to the services and opportunities that are available within their communities. Through the Traditional Legal Assistance Program (TLAP), caregivers are provided with one-on-one guidance by an attorney) or individual under the supervision of an attorney) in the use of legal resource and services when dealing with caregiver-related legal issues.

Support Services for caregivers include the following services:

• Assessment is conducted by trained & experienced case managers/counselors to assess caregivers’ needs which result in a plan which will identify type and duration of services needed to a caregiver.
• Case Management caregiver case management services are designed to assess the needs, coordinate and monitor an optimum package of services that meet the needs of the Family Caregiver and/or Grandparent/Relative Caregiver.
• Counseling is conducted by trained & experienced case managers/counselors that deliver counseling services appropriate for the caregiver, which may range from guidance with the responsibilities of the caregiving role to therapy for stress, depression and loss; and may involve his or her informal support system; and may include individual direct sessions and/or telephone consultations. Counseling for Caregivers provides information, referral, education and in-home counseling to family members caring for an older loved one.
• Support Group is provided to a group of 3-12 caregivers that is led by a facilitator; conducted at least monthly within a supportive setting or via a controlled access, moderated online or teleconference approach; for the purpose of sharing experiences and ideas to ease the stress of caregiving and enhancing decision making and problem solving related to their caregiving roles. Attending a Caregiver Support Group can help you find other caregivers who might be interested in keeping in touch and sharing resources. Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.
• Training consists of workshops or one-on-one individually tailored sessions, conducted either in person or electronically by a skilled trainer, to assist caregivers in developing the skills and gaining the knowledge necessary to meet and enhance their caregiving roles. Persons providing the training usually address the areas of health, nutrition, and financial literacy. You will learn a variety of self-care tools and strategies to reduce your stress, communicate more effectively with family and healthcare providers, deal with difficult feelings, and make tough caregiving decisions.

Respite Care means a brief period of relief or rest from caregiving responsibilities, and is provided to caregivers on an intermittent, temporary basis in a manner that responds to the individual needs and preferences of the caregivers and their care receivers. This service is provided to a caregiver who cares for an individual with two or more activities of daily living limitations or a cognitive impairment, or to a caregiver who is the grandparent or older adult relative caring for a child.

• In-Home Supervision is a temporary respite care that includes friendly visiting in order to prevent wandering and health or safety incidents.
• Homemaker Assistance is a temporary respite care that includes assistance with meal preparation, medication management, using the phone, and/or light housework (along with care receiver supervision).
• Personal Care is a temporary respite care that includes assistance with eating, bathing, toileting, transferring, and/or dressing (along with care receiver supervision and related homemaker assistance).
• Home Chore is a temporary respite care that includes assistance to a caregiver with heavy housework, yard work, and/or sidewalk and other routine home maintenance (but not structural repairs) associated with caregiving responsibilities.
• Out-of-Home Day is a temporary respite care where the care receiver attends supervised/protective, congregate setting during some portion of a day, and includes access to social and recreational activities.

For more information and services, call (800) 510-2020

Supplemental Services are offered on limited bases to help caregiver to support and strengthen the caregiving efforts. Supplemental Services for caregivers include the following services:

• Assistive Devices may involve the purchase, rental and/or service fee of any equipment or product system (ranging from a lift chair or bathtub transfer bench to an emergency alert fall prevention device) that will facilitate and enhance the caregiving role.
• Home Adaptations makes any minor or major physical change to the home in order to facilitate and enhance the caregiving role (ranging from installation of grab bars or replacement of door handles to construction of an entrance ramp or roll-in shower).
• Registry is a listing of dependable, qualified self-employed homemaker or respite care workers who may be matched with caregivers willing to utilize personal resources to pay for assistance with their caregiving responsibilities.  Both the caregiver and the self-employed worker will be advised about appropriate compensation, performance expectations, and follow-up to ensure the match is functioning effectively.
• Caregiving Emergency Cash/Material Aid