If you are the primary unpaid caregiver for a person living with cognitive impairment, we want to help you succeed and take care of yourself.
Trualta – free online caregiver resources
Senior Solutions has partnered with Trualta to provide free online caregiver resources. Learn more.
Respite Grants
Family caregivers are critical to the success of seniors and people with disabilities living in the community. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that in 2012 30,000 Vermont caregivers provided 34 million hours of unpaid care to people with dementia. Senior Solutions supports family caregivers through a number of activities including Dementia Respite Grants, the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and support to Vermont Kin as Parents.
These efforts help family caregivers by reducing stress, maintaining their health, and continuing their caregiving roles. Grants may be used to pay for a range of services including supplemental services (home modifications, assistive technology, personal care items, and transportation), in-home care, respite care, homemaker services, and Adult Day services.
National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)
This grant is available for caregivers to support loved ones in their homes. There are no income requirements and no specific diagnosis is needed. Grant awards are typically between $1,000-$2,000. This grant is currently spent. Additional funding should become available in September 2024.
Dementia Respite Grants
Senior Solutions offers respite grants to support the health and well-being of the caregiver and help loved ones be cared for at home. This grant provides funds typically up to $2,000 to unpaid family caregivers of individuals with an irreversible dementia diagnosis. It is intended to help unpaid family caregivers get additional support, allowing them the chance for rest and renewal. Grant awards can be used to pay for adult day services, to hire a respite care provider, or to hire help for personal care or homemaker tasks.
To be eligible, the care recipient must:
- Live at home within the Senior Solutions service area
- Have a physician’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related progressive dementia
- Have an annual income of no more than $43,740 (individual) or $59,160 (couple) (Income includes Social Security, pension, annuity, wages, rental income and interest income}
- May not be participating in the Choices for Care Long-Term Medicaid program, Veteran Directed Program or the Attendant Services Program
Grant Application (PDF) (print and send to us)
Grant Application Online
Call us to have application mailed to you (802.885.2669)
Memory Café
An opportunity for caregivers and their loved ones to socialize, listen to music, play games, enjoy nutritious snacks, while providing an opportunity to network and connect with each other.
Support Groups
You can find strength and share information with other caregivers. There are a variety of in-person and online support groups available.
Options Counseling
It’s important to have frank and well-informed conversations about pathways open to the people you care for. Our Options Counselors are skilled at helping family members plan together for the future. Call our HelpLine for advice, including personalized answers to questions about rights and responsibilities.
TCare
We use TCARE (Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral) a caregiver assessment tool that focuses on the needs of the family caregiver. Through a series of questions, we can find those areas of stress that can lead to caregiver burnout. An individualized care plan is then created to help the family caregiver manage their role and identity as a caregiver. Our staff will help you get connected to services such as support groups, counseling, caregiver support and education, financial assistance, benefits counseling, and respite to reduce those stressors.
Please consider completing a screening questionnaire to see what resources may be available to you.
Other Resources
Here you can explore various ways to provide the care that your elder relative or friend needs. There are also resources to help you learn and thrive as a caregiver.
