Guide

National Family Caregiver Support Program: help for caregivers

Updated October 15, 2026 · Reviewed against official sources

If you take your mom to her appointments, organize her medications, bathe her and also work, you're a family caregiver, even if you've never called yourself that. In many Latino families, caring for elders feels like a natural part of life, and it is. But that doesn't mean you have to do it without support. This guide explains what help exists for you, the caregiver, and how to ask for it step by step.

What the National Family Caregiver Support Program is

It's a program created by the Older Americans Act and run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Federal money goes to each state, and the state divides it among Area Agencies on Aging (sometimes called "the AAA" or "the county agency"). Those agencies, along with local organizations, are the ones that provide the services.

The idea is simple: if the family providing care is informed, supported and gets a break now and then, they can keep caring for longer and stay healthier. It isn't a Medicaid program, and it doesn't replace the family. It's support for them.

Each agency decides how to organize the program based on its budget and the needs in its area. That's why services, respite hours and waiting lists vary from one county to another. What is the same across the country are the groups who can qualify and the five types of services.

Who qualifies

According to ACL, the program serves these groups:

• Adult caregivers (18 or older) who care for someone 60 or older.
• Adult caregivers who care for someone of any age with Alzheimer's or a related disorder (another type of dementia).
• Grandparents and other relatives 55 or older (not the parents) who are raising a child under 18.
• Relatives 55 or older, including parents, who care for an adult age 18 to 59 with a disability.

You don't have to live with the person you care for or be their son or daughter. You can be a spouse, niece, daughter-in-law, neighbor or friend, as long as you provide care without pay. Many agencies give priority to caregivers with greater financial need or who care for people who need more help, so when you call, it's a good idea to explain your situation clearly.

The five types of services

The law groups the help into five categories:

1. Information about available services: talks, health fairs, materials and general guidance.
2. Help getting services: someone at the agency guides you, assesses your situation and connects you with specific programs. This is sometimes called case management.
3. Counseling, support groups and training: sessions to manage stress, groups with other caregivers and hands-on classes (for example, how to move a person without hurting yourself or how to handle behavior changes in dementia).
4. Respite care: someone cares for your loved one for a few hours or a few days so you can rest. It can be at home, at an adult day center or through a short stay in a care home. Read more in respite care.
5. Limited supplemental services: occasional support that rounds out care, such as some supplies or home modifications. Each agency decides which ones it offers and how much.

Grandparents raising grandchildren

In many Latino families, the grandmother ends up raising the grandchildren because of the parents' work, illness or other reasons. If you're 55 or older and raising a grandchild, niece, nephew or other child under 18 who isn't your own son or daughter, you can also ask this program for support: groups for grandparents raising grandchildren, guidance on school or health paperwork, counseling and, depending on where you live, respite care. When you call the agency, say clearly: "I'm a grandmother, and I'm raising my grandchild."

How to ask for help, step by step

1. Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, or search at eldercare.acl.gov with your ZIP code. If you prefer to speak Spanish, ask for it when you call.
2. Ask for the phone number of the Area Agency on Aging for your county.
3. Call the agency and say you're a family caregiver. You can say: "I take care of my 78-year-old mom, and I need information about the family caregiver support program."
4. Be ready for a short assessment. They'll ask how much help your loved one needs, how many hours you spend caregiving, whether you work and how your own health is. Answering honestly helps them offer you what you really need.
5. Ask about each of the five services, especially respite care and support groups. If there's a waiting list, ask to be put on it and ask what other options there are in the meantime.
6. Write down names, dates and answers. It will help you follow up.

Your local agency can also tell you about other programs for older adults, like home-delivered meals and transportation. We sum them up in free programs for older adults.

Other help for caregivers

FMLA: time off work without losing your job

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) lets certain employees take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period, with job protection, to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition. According to the Department of Labor, FMLA doesn't cover parents-in-law.

Not all workers qualify: it depends on the size of the employer, how long you've worked there and how many hours you've worked. Talk with human resources or check dol.gov. Also, some states have their own family leave laws, sometimes with partial pay; ask your state's labor department.

Medicaid programs that pay a family member as a caregiver

In several states, certain Medicaid home care programs let the person with Medicaid choose and hire their own caregiver, and in many cases that person can be a family member. This is called self-directed services. Well-known examples are IHSS in California and CDPAP in New York. The rules vary a lot from state to state, especially for spouses and legal guardians. Read home care for seniors, Medi-Cal and IHSS in California and Medicaid in New York.

If your loved one is a veteran

The VA has caregiver support programs and benefits that can help pay for care. See veterans benefits: Aid and Attendance.

PACE and adult day centers

If your loved one needs a lot of help but wants to stay at home, the PACE program coordinates doctors, adult day care and in-home help through a single team. An adult day center also gives you free time each week; look for options in our adult day center directory.

Take care of yourself too

Asking for help isn't letting your family down. A caregiver who sleeps, eats well and has someone to talk to gives better care, for longer. If you notice tiredness that won't go away, irritability or sadness, read caregiver burnout. And if several of you share the load, how to talk with your siblings about caring for your parents may help.

The social workers, counselors and volunteers at local agencies do a huge amount of work with few resources. Being patient and having your information on hand makes the process easier for everyone.

💬Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have a low income to get help?

The program doesn't have an income limit the way Medicaid does. However, because funds are limited, many agencies give priority to caregivers with greater financial need or who care for people who need a lot of help. It's worth calling even if you're not sure you qualify.

Does the program pay me to care for my mom?

No. This program doesn't pay the caregiver a salary. It provides support services, such as respite care, counseling and training. To get paid as a family caregiver, ask about your state's self-directed Medicaid programs.

How many hours of respite care can I get?

It depends on each agency and its budget. Some offer a few hours a month; others help pay for a few days at an adult day center or a care home. Ask what's offered in your county and whether there's a waiting list.

My dad lives in another state. Can I ask for help?

Yes. Call the Eldercare Locator and ask for the agency in the county where your dad lives. If you're caring from a distance, read caring for parents in another state or country.

Will they ask about my immigration status?

Each agency has its own forms and may ask for different information. Before you fill out an application, you can calmly ask what documents they need and why. Rules about benefits and immigration change and aren't the same for every program; if this worries your family, read immigration status and benefits and talk to an immigration attorney at a nonprofit organization.

This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Services and requirements may vary by state and county.

Sources

• ACL, National Family Caregiver Support Program: https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/national-family-caregiver-support-program (accessed October 15, 2026)
• ACL, Find Help (Eldercare Locator): https://acl.gov/HousingandServices/FindHelp (accessed October 15, 2026)
• Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov/ (accessed October 15, 2026)
• U.S. Department of Labor, Family and Medical Leave Act: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla (accessed October 15, 2026)
• Medicaid.gov, Self-Directed Services: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/self-directed-services (accessed October 15, 2026)

This is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Rules vary by state and by year: confirm with the official agency that applies to you.

👉Keep reading

Caregiver burnout: signs and free help, including in Spanish

Exhaustion, irritability, insomnia, isolation: how to recognize caregiver burnout and where to get free help in the U.S. today, including in Spanish.

Respite care: how to take a few days off from caregiving

What respite care is, where it's offered, who can help pay for it (Medicaid, the VA, hospice), and how to ask for it without feeling guilty.

Free senior programs: meals, transportation and senior centers

Home-delivered meals, community meal sites, transportation and caregiver support: how to find free or low-cost programs for older adults.

Getting paid to care for family

How an adult child or other relative can get paid to care for Mom or Dad: self-directed Medicaid, IHSS, CDPAP, structured family caregiving and the VA.