Connecticut family caregivers have access to funded respite through the CHCPE, Community First Choice, and free NFCSP grants through 5 Area Agencies on Aging. The statewide Infoline at 1-800-994-9422 is the fastest way to find what you qualify for.
Caregiving without a break is not sustainable. Research shows that family caregivers who do not access regular respite are at significantly higher risk of depression, physical burnout, and health crises than those who do. And the person they care for suffers too: when a caregiver reaches a breaking point, nursing facility placement often follows sooner than anyone planned. Respite is the investment that extends home care.
This guide maps every funded respite option in Connecticut for 2026.
Why Respite Takes Planning in Connecticut
Connecticut's respite programs are real and funded, but they require knowing which door to knock on first. The Infoline at 1-800-994-9422 is that door for most families: it routes to the regional AAA, which can assess your situation and identify NFCSP grants, adult day options, and CHCPE/CFC pathways simultaneously.
If you're in crisis now and need emergency respite, call 1-800-994-9422 or 211.
Funded Respite Options in Connecticut
1. CHCPE and Community First Choice Respite
What they are: The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) is Connecticut DSS's primary home care program for older adults. Community First Choice (CFC) is the Medicaid §1915(k) state plan option that funds self-directed personal care and includes respite as an authorized service. The fiscal intermediary for CFC is Allied Community Resources.
Can a family member provide respite? Under the CFC self-directed option, a family member who is not the recipient's spouse, conservator, or guardian may be hired as the personal care and respite worker. The member is the employer; Allied Community Resources handles payroll.
How to access: Talk to the member's DSS care coordinator. Ask for respite hours to be authorized in the current care plan.
Best for: Families already in CHCPE or CFC who want paid in-home respite delivered by a family member.
2. Adult Family Living (AFL): Formalizing Live-In Care
What it is: Adult Family Living is a DSS-funded program within the CHCPE and PCA Waiver that pays a live-in non-spouse relative a tax-free daily stipend to be the primary caregiver. A spouse, conservator, guardian, and health care representative cannot be the AFL caregiver. An adult child, grandchild, sibling, or other relative living with the care recipient may qualify.
While AFL is technically a paid-caregiving program rather than scheduled respite, it provides real relief: the live-in caregiver is compensated for comprehensive daily care, freeing them from needing outside employment to sustain the arrangement. The AFL stipend amount varies by DSS care level; confirm the current rates with the assigned care manager.
Best for: A live-in adult child or other relative providing comprehensive daily care for an eligible CHCPE or PCA Waiver enrollee.
3. NFCSP Grants and Connecticut's Statewide Respite Care Program
What it is: The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through the Connecticut Department of Social Services Aging Services division to 5 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Connecticut also operates a Statewide Respite Care Program through AAA contracts that supplements NFCSP with additional state-funded caregiver respite resources.
Who qualifies: Family caregivers of adults age 60 and older; grandparent and relative caregivers of children under 18; caregivers of any age caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. No income test for NFCSP respite services.
How to access: Call the Connecticut Infoline at 1-800-994-9422 or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. The Infoline routes to your regional AAA.
Best for: Any Connecticut family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP and the state respite program are among the most underused caregiver resources in Connecticut.
4. Adult Day Services
What they are: Adult day programs provide structured daytime care in a community setting, typically 4 to 8 hours per day, with meals, activities, social engagement, and nursing oversight. For caregivers of people with dementia, regular adult day participation often reduces behavioral symptoms and restores consistent weekday hours.
Finding programs: Connecticut DSS licenses adult day programs statewide. Your regional AAA maintains a local directory. Call 1-800-994-9422 for referrals.
Who pays:
- NFCSP grants through your AAA can offset adult day costs.
- CHCPE and CFC can cover adult day health for eligible enrolled members.
- Long-term care insurance often covers adult day under the HCBS rider.
- Private pay rates vary; confirm directly with individual centers.
Best for: Caregivers who need consistent weekday respite and care recipients who benefit from socialization and structured programming.
5. VA Respite for Veterans
What it is: Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access respite through the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (West Haven and Newington campuses), including in-home aide services, adult day health, and short-term placement in VA Community Living Centers or contracted facilities.
PCAFC: Primary Family Caregivers in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers receive respite care as part of the benefit package; confirm authorized days and co-pay with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.
How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or contact the Caregiver Support Coordinator at the West Haven VA Medical Center.
Best for: Families of veterans enrolled in VA health care, particularly those in PCAFC.
6. Short-Term Facility Respite and Emergency Respite
Short-term facility respite places the care recipient in an assisted living community or nursing facility for a few days to several weeks. Many Connecticut assisted living and memory care facilities offer short-stay options; call facilities in your area for current pricing.
Emergency respite is available through Connecticut's AAAs using NFCSP funds. Call 1-800-994-9422 or 211 as a first step.
How to Start in Connecticut
- Call 1-800-994-9422 (Connecticut Infoline). This statewide line routes to your regional AAA and DSS Aging Services for NFCSP grants, the state Respite Care Program, and CHCPE/CFC eligibility screening.
- Talk to the DSS care coordinator if your loved one is enrolled in CHCPE or CFC. Ask for respite hours to be added to the authorized care plan.
- Ask about Adult Family Living if you are a live-in non-spouse relative providing daily care. AFL may compensate you for the care you are already providing.
- Dial 211 for local adult day program referrals and emergency respite resources.
- If your loved one is a veteran, call 1-855-260-3274 before anywhere else.
Not sure which Connecticut respite program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized list based on your loved one's age, CHCPE or CFC enrollment, and care needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. CHCPE and Community First Choice both authorize in-home respite as part of the care plan. Under the CFC self-directed option, a non-spouse family member can be hired as the respite worker. Ask the DSS care coordinator to include respite hours in the current authorization.
Yes. NFCSP grants through Connecticut's 5 Area Agencies on Aging provide caregiver respite with no income test. Connecticut also operates a Statewide Respite Care Program that supplements NFCSP. Call 1-800-994-9422 to reach your regional AAA.
AFL pays a live-in non-spouse relative a daily stipend to be the primary caregiver. It is a paid-caregiving program, not scheduled respite per se, but it provides real relief by compensating the live-in caregiver for comprehensive daily care. A spouse, conservator, and guardian cannot be the AFL caregiver.
Call the Infoline at 1-800-994-9422 to reach your regional AAA, which maintains a local directory. You can also dial 211. DSS licenses adult day programs statewide.
Learn More
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Connecticut
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Connecticut
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Connecticut at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.