A Caregiver's Guide to the National Family Caregiver Support Program

If you're taking care of an aging parent, a family member with disabilities, or raising grandchildren, you know firsthand how rewarding—and sometimes overwhelming—caregiving can be. Those middle-of-the-night worries about balancing your loved one's needs with your own life aren't unique to you.

Millions of Americans walk this same path every day, and that's precisely why the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) exists.

Whether you need a short break from caregiving, want to learn better ways to help your loved one, or need someone to talk to who understands what you're going through, this program offers real, practical support.

Let's walk through everything you need about how this program can make your caregiving journey easier.

What is the National Family Caregiver Support Program?

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) is a federally funded initiative to support family caregivers who care for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Administered by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), the program provides grants to states to fund support and services that help family caregivers provide care to individuals in their homes for as long as possible.

Program history and purpose

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) was established in 2000 as part of the amendments to the Older Americans Act (OAA). Recognizing the critical role family caregivers play in the long-term care system, the program was created to address the growing needs of caregivers, especially as the aging population in the United States increases.

Types of services offered under NFCSP

The NFCSP provides grants to states and territories, based on their share of the population age 70 and over, to fund a range of supports, including:

1. Information about available services: This involves providing caregivers with details about local, state, and federal programs and resources to help them make informed decisions.
2. Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services: Caregivers receive help navigating and connecting with the appropriate services and programs tailored to their situation.
3. Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training: These services focus on emotional support, skill-building, and connecting caregivers with others in similar situations.
4. Respite care: Temporary relief is provided to caregivers by arranging substitute care for their loved ones (i.e. adult day care).
5. Supplemental services, on a limited basis: Additional services, such as transportation or home modifications, are provided to support caregiving needs outside routine offerings.

These services work alongside other community resources to create a coordinated support system in order to delay the need for institutional care.

Eligibility for the National Family Caregiver Support Program

Under the 2016 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, specific caregiver groups became eligible for services through the NFCSP, including:

• Adult family members or informal caregivers aged 18 and older who provide care to adults age 60 or older.
• Adult family members or informal caregivers aged 18 and older who care for individuals of any age with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders.
• Older relatives (excluding parents) aged 55 and older who provide care to children under 18 years old.
• Older relatives, including parents, aged 55 and older who provide care for adults aged 18–59 with disabilities.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program focuses on helping those who assist care recipients with activities requiring verbal reminding, physical cueing, or other forms of substantial supervision. Caregivers who help individuals with mental impairment or other significant health challenges receive special consideration.

Accessing services through NFCSP

Caregivers do not apply directly to the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) for services. Instead, the program provides funding to state and local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and other community-based organizations that administer services to caregivers.

To find and use services funded by the NFCSP, caregivers should:

1. Contact the Eldercare Locator: This service, managed by the U.S. Administration on Aging, connects caregivers with their local Area Agency on Aging or relevant organizations. Caregivers can call the toll-free number or visit the website to get started.
2. Reach out to Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs): These agencies are the primary service providers of NFCSP-funded services. Caregivers can inquire about specific resources, such as respite care, support groups, or training programs available in their community.
3. Engage with community-based organizations: Many community organizations receive funding through the NFCSP to offer services like caregiver counseling, supplemental support, and access to local resources.

Additional resources for caregivers

• Family Caregiver Alliance - National Center on Caregiving: A program that provides a central hub for research, policies, and services to improve caregiving and long-term care for families nationwide.
• National Alliance for Caregiving: A nonprofit coalition dedicated to research, policy development, and raising awareness to improve the quality of life for caregivers and care recipients.
• Caregiver Action Network: A nonprofit organization offering free education, peer support, and resources to improve the lives of family caregivers across the U.S.
• Generations United: A membership organization that fosters intergenerational collaboration to improve the lives of children, youth, and older adults through programs, policies, and advocacy.
• The Brookdale Foundation Group—Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP): A program supporting grandparents and other relatives acting as surrogate parents by providing services and resources through a network of support groups.
• eXtension: An online platform by the USDA Cooperative Extension System offering educational materials and resources for caregivers on topics like disaster preparedness, military families, housing, and nutrition.