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CT's National Family Caregiver Support Program
Description of this Program The enactment of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 established an important new program, the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The Program was developed by the Administration on Aging (AOA)of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and modeled in large part after successful long-term care programs across the United States. In a recent survey by the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), 54 million people were family caregivers to a loved one who was ill, disabled, or elderly. Although providing care to a loved one can be a rewarding experience, it can also be very difficult. The NFCSP will offer some services and support that caregivers need in order to continue their caregiving role. In North Central Connecticut, the NFCSP is administered
by the North Central Area Agency on Aging (NCAAA). Services
include the following: Respite Care for Family Caregivers - Respite care programs are designed to enable caregivers of older adults to be temporarily relieved from the physical and emotional responsibilities of caregiving. By providing services to the individual being cared for, the caregivers have time to regroup from their caregiving responsibilities. Direct services intended to provide respite are coordinated based on the needs of the caregiver and may include but are not limited to: adult day care, homemaker, companion, home health aide, in-home nursing visits, and skilled nursing care. Assistance, including individual counseling, may also be provided in order to help caregivers gain access to available services, make decisions and solve problems relating to their caregiving roles. In the North Central Region, funds for respite care have been granted out to a network of community aging services providers. All referrals and requests for care can be made directly to the provider of your choice. Please visit the Respite Care Providers page for a listing of our grantees. Supplemental Services for Family Caregivers - Supplemental Services also known as “gap filling” services can be provided on a limited basis to complement the care provided by caregivers. This component of the CT National Family Caregiver Support program focuses on the out of pocket expenses frequently incurred by caregivers in the absence of a payment source such as Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. Studies indicate that these and other un-reimbursed expenses for family caregivers total an estimated $1.5 billion annually. With the help of Supplemental Services, NCAAA seeks to defray this cost of caring.Examples of supplemental services may include but are not limited to seasonal clothing, medical supplies, home modifications (grab bars etc.), transportation assistance, and hearing aids. Decisions regarding the appropriate supplemental services are based on the needs as presented. All reasonable requests will be considered. A maximum amount of $750.00 per grant year may be used towards supplemental services based on the needs of the applicant. Program recipients are encouraged to consider a donation of 20% toward the cost of their supplemental services item. This is not mandatory rather it is an opportunity for beneficiaries to assist NCAAA by paying back into the program. This enables us to provide goods and services for future caregivers and their loved ones. NCAAA works in collaboration with local health care providers, agencies, and companies that will provide the service or product as needed.
Types of Items Purchased Through Supplemental Services 2008
How to apply/Respite
Care: How to
apply/Supplemental Services: Applications may be completed
and mailed to NCAAA, 2 Hartford Square West, Suite 101, Hartford,
CT 06106-5129, Attn: Supplemental Services Program
Coordinator. In some supplemental services requests a home visit and/or a doctor's order is necessary
to appropriately assess the needs of the family and to complete
the application process. For an application form, Click
here. General Eligibility Guidelines:
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