The Impact of Family Caregiving
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.
Why is financial assistance for caregivers important?*
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Unreimbursed expenses for family caregivers total an estimated $1.5 billion annually
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Informal caregivers are estimated to lose an average of:
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$25,494 in Social Security benefits
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$67,202 in pension benefits
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$566,433 in wage wealth
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Value of “free” services provided by family caregivers is estimated to be $306 billion per year.
*Additional Caregiver Statistics available at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=439
The Connecticut National Family Caregiver Support Program provides the following services:
Information to caregivers about available services-Family caregivers can call NCAAA at 1-800-994-9422 and get information on services available such as federal/state financial assistance programs, housing options, health insurance (Medicare, Medigap, Rx Assistance), transportation, home health care, meals on wheels, adult day care, senior centers, legal services, and much more. Please visit our CHOICES page for more Information, Referral, and Assistance.
Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services- Family caregivers can get additional help in applying for services or benefits. A member of the Family Caregiver Support team can answer questions concerning available services and clarify any issue for caregivers. Please visit our Community Choices page for additional services and supports including guidance on planning for the future.
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 Respite Care can be made directly to one of our network providers. Please click here for our provider directory. The current Respite Service Grantees for caregivers and grandparents raising their grandchildren can be found on pages 28-30.
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.
How to apply:
Applications for Supplemental Services may be submitted to NCAAA c/o the Respite Care Manager at 151 New Park Avenue, Box 75, Hartford, CT 06106. We require that a doctor’s order accompany all requests for medical supplies in order to verify need.
General Eligibility Guidelines:
- In order to qualify for respite and/or supplemental services a person must be:
A family caregiver of an older adult 60 years of age or older. The care recipient must be unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (need full list – get from form V) or have a cognitive or mental impairment that requires substantial supervision. (Examples of this can be a spouse caring for an elderly spouse or an adult family member caring for an elderly parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, or sibling). - A grandparent or elderly relative caregiver age 55 or older caring for a child 18 years of age or younger. The caregiver must live with the child and be the primary caregiver to the child.
- Priority for these services will be given to persons with the greatest social and economic need (with particular attention to low-income, minority individuals at or below the federal poverty level), and older individuals providing care and support to persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. NCAAA will assess the needs of the applicant and decide what services or program might best meet those needs.