Family Caregiver Support

The Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III E Family Caregiver Support program code is 3900100.

The Older Americans Act (OAA) seeks to enable older individuals to maintain their well-being through locally developed community-based systems of services. The OAA Title III E Family Caregiver Support Program provides a variety of services to address the needs of informal, unpaid family caregivers.

The Family Caregiver Support Program provides services to informal caregivers of older adults and individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. The III E program also provides support to older relative caregivers (who are 55 years of age and older), with primary caregiving responsibilities for a child or individuals with a disability. Some AAAs contract with California Caregiver Resource Centers (CCRCs) to administer the Title IIIE FCSP. Program services include, but are not limited to:

• Respite Care Provides caregivers with temporary in-home or out-of-home relief from caregiving responsibilities, which includes day care, out-of-home overnight care, and home chore and homemaker assistance.
• Support Services Includes caregiver counseling, support groups, and caregiver training.
• Supplemental Services Provides assistive technology, caregiver assessment, home modifications, caregiver registry services, legal consultation for caregivers, and consumable supplies to assist with caregiving responsibilities.
• Access Assistance Includes caregiver information and assistance services such as caregiver outreach and translation. Caregiver case management services are also provided by trained individuals.
• Information Services Includes services such as public information and community education.

The Program is designed to reduce caregiver burden, enable caregivers to remain in the workforce, and prevent or delay the need for a higher level of care for the care receiver. Information about the caregiving role and available resources empowers those facing a long-term caregiving situation. Proactive outreach and access to service assistance are vital to preserving and promoting unpaid family support networks.

Program services help caregivers cope with stress, depression, multiple personal demands, competing priorities, and can reduce reliance on more costly formal supports. The availability of emergency or intermittent respite gives the family caregiver a needed break from their caregiving responsibilities. Limited supplemental services address unique needs that threaten the caregiver’s ability to provide care.