Respite Care in Connecticut: A 2026 Guide for Family Caregivers

Connecticut has funded respite care for family caregivers at every income level, from free grants through its Area Agencies on Aging to Medicaid-paid in-home hours. The statewide Infoline at 1-800-994-9422 is the fastest way to find what you qualify for.1

You cannot pour from an empty cup, and the federal data bear that out. During 2021 to 2022, frequent mental distress among family caregivers rose to 20.5%, compared with 13.6% for non-caregivers, and roughly one in four caregivers reports a lifetime diagnosis of depression. When a caregiver reaches a breaking point, nursing facility placement for their loved one often follows sooner than anyone planned. Respite is not a luxury. It is the investment that keeps home care going.2

This guide maps every funded respite care option in Connecticut for 2026, and exactly how to reach each one.

Why Respite Care Takes Planning in Connecticut

You may have already learned the hard way that respite help does not arrive on its own. 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 or CFC pathways at the same time.1

If you are in crisis now and need emergency respite, call 1-800-994-9422 or 211.1

Funded Respite Care 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 Section 1915(k) state plan option that funds self-directed personal care and includes respite as an authorized service. Because CFC is a state plan benefit rather than a capped waiver, it has no enrollment waitlist for those who qualify, which sets Connecticut apart from states where waiver slots are closed and families wait months. The fiscal intermediary for CFC is Allied Community Resources.1,3

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.3

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 (AFL) is a DSS-funded program offered under both the CHCPE and the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Waiver that pays a live-in non-spouse relative a tax-free 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.4

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 stipend is set by DSS at one of four care levels based on the assessed complexity of care, so the amount rises with how much help your loved one needs. Exact dollar figures are not published on a state website, so confirm the current level-based stipend with DSS or the sponsor agency before you count on a number.4

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

If you have been putting off asking for help because you assumed respite required Medicaid paperwork or a low income, this is the program that changes that.

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 (DSS) 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.1

Who qualifies: Family caregivers of adults age 60 and older; older relatives age 55 and older caring for children under 18; and caregivers of any age caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. There is no income test for NFCSP respite services.1

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.1,5

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

Some caregivers hesitate here, worried that a day program means handing their loved one to strangers. In practice it is often the opposite: a good program gives the person something to look forward to and gives you your weekdays back.

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.1

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 home and community-based services (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

If your loved one served, this is where you should start, because it can open respite the other programs cannot.

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 (PCAFC) receive respite care as part of the benefit package; confirm authorized days and any 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.6

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.1

How to Start Respite Care in Connecticut

Learn More

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.