November is National Family Caregivers Month, and it opens on the heels of a string of new federal awards aimed at the people who care for aging parents, spouses, grandchildren and relatives with disabilities. Between Oct. 23 and Oct. 27, the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced funding for state caregiver programs, respite care, grandfamilies and the referral network behind the Eldercare Locator.
More than 63 million family caregivers support older adults and people with disabilities living in the community each year, according to ACL. ACL describes the month as a time to recognize family caregivers, raise awareness of caregiving issues and increase support for them. Here is what the new awards do and where caregivers can find help now.
What did ACL announce for family caregivers?
ACL, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced four caregiving-related awards in the last week of October:
- State caregiver strategy grants. Six state units on aging, in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri and Wisconsin, will each receive up to $490,000 over 24 months to carry out the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, ACL said on Oct. 23. The grants run from Sept. 30, 2026, to Sept. 29, 2028.
- Grandfamilies and kinship families. Generations United will run the National Technical Assistance Center for Kinship and Grandfamilies under a three-year award of $1 million a year, for a total of $3 million, ACL announced Oct. 27.
- Respite care. Families and Communities Rising will operate the Lifespan Respite Care Program’s technical assistance and resource center under a three-year agreement of nearly $1.26 million, according to ACL.
- Information and referral. ADvancing States will run the National Information and Referral Support Center, which supports the Eldercare Locator, under a three-year award totaling $675,000, ACL said.
Will these awards change services in my area?
Mostly indirectly. The state grants go to six state aging agencies, which must focus on at least three of the national strategy’s five goals and work with their state developmental disabilities agency, at least one other state agency and a tribe or tribal agency, ACL said.
The other three awards fund national centers that train and support local programs rather than paying families directly. The kinship center, for example, is meant to help states, tribes and counties copy models that make services easier for grandparents and other relatives raising children to reach, according to ACL.
ACL also said the national caregiver strategy, first released in 2022, has a 2026 update that is “forthcoming.” The agency did not give a release date.
Where can family caregivers get help now?
Your local Area Agency on Aging. The National Family Caregiver Support Program, created in 2000, funds five types of help through states: information about services, help getting those services, counseling, support groups and caregiver training, respite care, and limited supplemental services, according to ACL. Eligible caregivers include adults caring for someone 60 or older, caregivers of people of any age with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, and relatives 55 and older raising children or caring for adults with disabilities.
The Eldercare Locator. The free Eldercare Locator, a public service of ACL, connects older adults and families with local services. It can be reached by call or text at 1-800-677-1116, by online chat or by email.
Medicare caregiver training. Medicare Part B covers caregiver training when a health care provider decides it is appropriate for the patient’s treatment plan, according to Medicare.gov. Training can cover giving medications, helping with daily tasks, moving the patient safely and caring for wounds, and caregivers can attend without the patient present. After the Part B deductible, the patient pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
What can caregivers do about falls at home?
Falls are the leading cause of injury for people 65 and older, and one in four older adults falls every year, HHS said on Oct. 9 when it announced up to $27.8 million over three years for falls prevention initiatives. Those awards expand the CDC’s STEADI screening approach and Stepping On, a community program that builds strength and balance.
Caregivers can ask the person’s doctor about a fall-risk screening and ask the local aging agency about balance classes. Home changes such as grab bars can help, as can the right shower chair, raised toilet seat, walker or wheelchair; medical supply companies such as MedCare Mobility carry mobility and bathroom safety products. People with Medicare reviewing their coverage before Dec. 7 can also use HNC’s open enrollment checklist.
Key Takeaways
- November is National Family Caregivers Month; more than 63 million family caregivers support older adults and people with disabilities, ACL says.
- ACL announced caregiver strategy grants for six states: California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri and Wisconsin.
- New national centers will support grandfamilies, respite care and the Eldercare Locator referral network.
- Local Area Agencies on Aging offer respite, counseling, training and support groups through the National Family Caregiver Support Program.
- Medicare Part B covers caregiver training when a provider includes it in the patient’s treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Family Caregivers Month?
It is observed every November. ACL describes it as a time to recognize family caregivers, raise awareness of caregiving issues and increase support for caregivers.
Which states received the new caregiver strategy grants?
California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri and Wisconsin. Each state unit on aging can receive up to $490,000 over 24 months, according to ACL.
How do I find caregiver help near me?
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov. The National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite care, counseling, support groups and caregiver training through states.
Does Medicare pay for caregiver training?
Yes, in some cases. Medicare Part B covers caregiver training when a health care provider determines it is appropriate for the patient’s treatment plan. After the Part B deductible, the patient pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Featured image: A man pushes an older woman in a wheelchair in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Illustrative photo. (Photo by Paul Stickman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
