Family Caregiver Support Program – The National Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) funds a range of supports that assist family and informal caregivers to care for their loved ones at home. Eligible family caregivers include:
- Family member or informal caregiver providing care to an individual 60 years of age or older.
- Family member or informal caregiver providing care to an individual of any age with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
- Grandparents and other relatives (not birth or adoptive parents) 55 years of age and older providing care to children under the age of 18.
- Grandparents and other relatives (not birth or adoptive parents) 55 years of age and older providing care to an adult age 18-59 with a disability.
In addition to the eligibility requirements, the caregiver of an older individual receiving Respite or Supplemental services must be taking care of a care recipient who meets the definition of “frail”. Frail means that the older individual is determined to be functionally impaired because the individual: (A) is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living without substantial human assistance (verbal reminding, physical cueing, or supervision) or (B) due to a cognitive or other mental impairment, requires substantial supervision because the individual behaves in a manner that poses a serious health or safety hazard to the individual or to another individual.
FCSP helps caregivers by providing information to connect them with the right resources:
- Information
- Assistance in gaining access to services
- Individual counseling, organization of support groups, training and education.
- Respite care (limited funds available)
- Supplemental services (on a limited basis)
This program gives primary focus to the caregiver, not the care recipient. Other programs that could be of help to caregivers are Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty) and Lifespan Respite.
To see if you are eligible for the Caregiver Respite Voucher Program, CLICK HERE.
You can also fill out a printed form HERE or complete a fillable PDF form HERE.
Project Care assists caregivers of people living with dementia by providing a Family Consultant to help relieve caregiving issues. This service is provided by the Duke Family Support Program. For more information about the Duke Family Support Program, contact (919) 660-7510 or DukeFamilySupport@duke.edu.
Lifespan Respite is an application-based program that reimburses eligible family caregivers caring for individuals of any age in respite care services in a calendar year. Funding is limited. Applicants must be referred to the program by a local professional organization. The Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging will complete the online application on behalf of the family caregiver.
Caregivers will receive information about services and programs available to help them keep the person they care for at home. Limited financial assistance is available for caregiver respite, which allows caregivers to take a short break from their caregiving duties. Support groups, workshops and training programs are available to help caregivers take better care of themselves and the person they are caring for. See below.
Caregiver Groups
There are social groups for caregivers in each county within our region. Join any that fit your schedule!
| County | Location | Date / Time | Contact Person | Telephone Number |
| Franklin | Louisburg Senior Center | 2nd Monday 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Wendy Hunter | 919-496-1131 |
| Granville | Granville Medical Hospital: Cafeteria Meeting Room | 1st Wednesday 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Gail Barnes-Hall | 919-690-3273 |
| Person | Antioch Baptist Church | 2nd Tuesday 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Maynell Harper | 336-599-7484 |
| Person | Person County Senior Center | 4th Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Maynell Harper | 336-599-7484 |
| Vance | Sadies Coffee Corner | 2nd Friday 12:00 pm -1:30 pm | Kerr-Tar AAA | 252-436-2040 |
| Warren | Warren County Senior Center | 2nd Tuesday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm | Arneda Wilson | 252-257-3111 |
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
The Powerful Tools for Caregivers program and its companion book, The Caregiver Helpbook, are designed to provide caregivers the tools to:
• Reduce personal stress
• Practice self-care
• Reduce guilt, anger, and depression
• Communicate effectively with family members, doctors, and paid help
• Utilize community resources
• Make tough decisions
• Set goals and problem solve
Research has shown that Powerful Tools for Caregivers increases caregiver confidence and builds skills to help them thrive as individuals. Six-week classes for caregivers are conducted by trained PT4C Class Leaders. Contact Susan Tucker or Michael Patterson at 252-436-2040 for more information.
Dementia Friends North Carolina
Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society of the United Kingdom, the Dementia Friends initiative is underway in North Carolina and across the United States.
You become a Dementia Friend by attending a one-hour informational session to learn about this worldwide movement, about living with dementia, tips for communicating with people who have dementia and the simple things you can do to support someone living with dementia.
By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects families, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia. You don’t need to be a dementia expert to become a Dementia Friend. After you attend the session, you decide about becoming a Dementia Friend!
PASTA (Parenting A Second Time Around)
Parenting A Second Time Around (PASTA) is a research-based curriculum that addresses the needs of families in which grandparents or other relatives are raising children. This curriculum offers relatives raising children the opportunity to gain confidence, knowledge and skills on topics, such as parenting, adult/child interaction, child development and legal issues. Whether you have ambivalent feelings from changing roles as grandparents, feel uncomfortable about sensitive issues (explaining to children why their parents were unable to care for them), or afraid to ask about information, this class is for you!
Websites for additional support:
AARP
A caregiver resource center. Helps caregivers to navigate their role and give them the information, assistance and support that they need: Dementia, Legal Information, Health Balance, Medical, In-Home Care and much more.
EDUMED
A comprehensive handbook for all caregivers who seek guidance, resources and self-management
Eldercare Locator
A public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging connecting you to services for older adults and their families.
Elder Care Planning
Fully equipped directories for information on aging programs and services anywhere in the United States.
Family Caregiver Alliance
FCA is a longtime advocate for caregivers in the areas of policy, health and social system development, research, and public awareness, on the state, national and international levels.Services include: assessment, care planning, direct care skills, wellness programs, respite services, and legal/financial consultation vouchers
Dementia Alliance of North Carolina
Dementia Alliance of North Carolina is dedicated to providing education, support and services to individuals with dementia, their families, health care professionals and the general public while raising awareness and funding for research of a cause(s), treatment, prevention and cure for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Mondays with Melanie
Dementia Alliance of North Carolina introduces its new YouTube channel with a series called, “Mondays with Melanie.” Registered nurse and dementia caregiver specialist, Melanie Bunn, will answer viewer questions on a wide range of caregiver topics every Monday. To submit a question for consideration visit: www.dementianc.org/mwm
Alzheimer’s Association
An informative Web site for information about Alzheimer’s Disease and caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Store
Products and information for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Products have been selected to make living with Alzheimer’s disease as easy as possible.
Asbestos
A resource on support for caregivers and the help needed to assist with a cancer diagnosis. They provide a free monthly support group for patients and their families to help equip them with the skills and counseling they need during the most difficult of times.
The Caregiver Action Network
Education, peer support, and resources that serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Duke Dementia Family Support Program
Your source for help with Alzheimer’s, memory disorders and elder care decisions. The Duke Family Support Program serves families and professionals concerned about or caring for persons with memory disorders in North Carolina, and Duke employees seeking help with elder care decisions.
Next Step in Care
Next Step in Care has five categories of information for you to choose from: The hospital, discharge planning, rehabilitation and subacute care, care at home, and outpatient care.
Next Avenue
Next Avenue is public media’s first and only national journalism service for America’s booming older population. Next Avenue delivers vital ideas, context and perspectives on issues that matter as individuals age.