The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) provides grants to states and territories to help family and informal caregivers care for older adults in their homes for as long as possible.
Deeper dive
The program was established in 2000 and provides funding based on state and territory share of the population 70 and older, as part of The Older American Act. According to the Administration on Community Living, NFCSP grantees can provide five types of services:
- Information to caregivers about available services
- Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services
- Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training
- Respite care
- Limited supplemental services
These services work in conjunction with other state and community-based services to provide a coordinated set of supports. Studies have shown that these services can reduce caregiver depression, anxiety and stress and enable caregivers to provide care longer, thereby avoiding or delaying the need for costly institutional care Caregivers eligible to receive services include:
- Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older who provide care to individuals 60 years of age and older
- Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older who provide care to individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders
- Older relatives (not parents) age 55 and older who provide care to children under the age of 18
- Older relatives, including parents, age 55 and older, who provide care to adults ages 18–59 with disabilities
Family caregivers can learn more about their state’s NFCSP program through their local Area Agency on Aging (AAoA).