The Family Caregiver Support Program provides a Single Point of Entry (SPOE) to access services, provide accurate information about community-based services and options to support caregivers through their caregiving experiences.  The two (2) groups of caregivers that are eligible for the Family Caregiver Support Program are:

1. Family caregivers, an adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual.
2. Grandparent or step-grandparent of a child or a relative of a child by blood or marriage, who is 60 years of age or older and lives with the child, acts as the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child; and has legal relationship to the child, such as legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally.
   • Child means an individual who is not more than 18 years of age.

 The FCSP includes five basic service categories:

Information – Outreach efforts at the community level, to educate older people and their caregivers about the benefits and services available to them.  Information about caregiver programs that are aimed at large groups of people who may benefit from other services directed towards individual’s caregivers.

Assistance – Offers one-on-one contact to assess the problems and capacities for caregivers and to link caregivers to the opportunities and services available within their communities.  Activities such as case management including assessing needs, authorizing services, arranging services, coordinating the provision of services among provides, and follow-up as required.

Individual Counseling – Advise and guidance made available to caregivers through the FCSP Coordinator to assist the caregiver in making decisions and solving problems relating to their roles.

Support Groups – Opportunities for caregivers to talk about personal demands, competing priorities, and challenges with counselors and peers in similar situations, so they are able to make better care-related decisions and better cope with problems or unique situations that may arise.

Training – Instructions to help caregivers and par-professionals acquire the necessary skills to be able to perform their caregiving duties.

 Respite – Temporary, a brief period of relief or rest for caregivers can be provided in the form of in-home respite, adult day care respite to help caregivers who need a break, to take care of their own personal needs and priorities.

Supplemental Services – Services provided on a limited basis to complement the care provided by caregivers.  This service is flexible and responsive to the unique and often diverse needs of families.

For more information contact Becki Thomas, FCSP Coordinator.