Delaware family caregivers can access funded respite through Medicaid personal attendant services and free NFCSP grants. VA programs serve veterans across the First State as well.
Caregiving without breaks leads to burnout, and burnout leads to nursing facility placement sooner than anyone planned. Regular respite is what makes the long run possible. This guide maps every funded respite option in Delaware for 2026.
Why Respite Matters
Family caregiver burnout is not a personal failing. It is a predictable response to sustained high-demand caregiving without recovery time. Research is consistent: caregivers who access regular respite keep their loved ones at home longer and maintain better health themselves. Respite is not stepping away from your responsibility. It is what makes showing up tomorrow possible.
If you need emergency respite right now, call 1-800-223-9074 (Delaware ADRC) or dial 211.
Funded Respite Options in Delaware
1. Medicaid Personal Attendant Services
What it is: The Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) administers Personal Attendant Services programs that allow Medicaid participants to hire, train, and supervise their own personal care attendants for in-home support, including respite. Participants can hire family members and people they know as their attendants.
Can a family member be the paid caregiver? Delaware's program explicitly allows participants to hire family members and friends as personal attendants. Whether a spouse specifically may serve as the paid attendant, and any restrictions on other family relationships, should be confirmed with the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-223-9074.
How to access: Contact the Delaware ADRC at 1-800-223-9074 to ask about eligibility and Personal Attendant Services enrollment. The ADRC can connect you with DSAAPD.
Best for: Families where the care recipient is enrolled in Delaware Medicaid and needs personal attendant support in the home.
2. Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP+) Managed LTSS
What it is: Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP+) is Delaware's managed long-term services and supports program, delivered through contracted Managed Care Organizations. Eligible members who need nursing-facility-level care can receive community-based LTSS, including personal care, through the managed care model. Respite may be authorized through the member's care plan.
How to access: Contact the member's DSHP+ care coordinator and ask specifically for respite to be included in the current care plan. If you are not yet enrolled, contact the Delaware ADRC at 1-800-223-9074.
Best for: Delaware families already enrolled in DSHP+ managed LTSS.
3. NFCSP Grants Through Delaware's Area Agencies on Aging
What it is: The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act and administered federally by the Administration for Community Living, flows through the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities to Delaware's Area Agencies on Aging. Each AAA provides in-home respite, caregiver training, individual counseling, and supplemental services.
Who qualifies: Family caregivers of adults age 60 and older; grandparent and relative caregivers of children under 18; caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia at any age. There is no income test for NFCSP respite services.
How to access: Call the Delaware ADRC statewide line at 1-800-223-9074, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Best for: Any Delaware family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP is consistently underused and available to most families at no cost.
4. Adult Day Programs and Short-Term Facility Respite
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 health oversight. For caregivers of people with dementia, regular adult day attendance often stabilizes behavioral symptoms and restores predictable hours for the caregiver.
Short-term facility respite places the care recipient in an assisted living community or skilled nursing facility for days to several weeks, giving the caregiver a longer break. Many Delaware senior living facilities offer short-stay arrangements.
Who pays: NFCSP grants through your regional AAA can offset adult day costs; Delaware Medicaid may cover adult day as part of a care plan; long-term care insurance often covers it under the community-care rider; private pay rates vary.
Finding programs: Call 1-800-223-9074 or dial 211 for referrals near you.
5. VA Respite for Veterans
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access respite through their VA medical center: in-home aide services, adult day health care, and short-term facility respite.
Primary Family Caregivers in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) receive respite care as part of their benefit package; confirm authorized days and any co-pay with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator at your VAMC.
How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
How to Start in Delaware
- Call 1-800-223-9074 (Delaware ADRC) to reach your Area Agency on Aging. They can connect you with NFCSP respite grants, caregiver counseling, and local program referrals at no cost.
- Ask the DSHP+ care coordinator if your loved one is enrolled in managed LTSS. Request that respite be included in the current care plan.
- Dial 211 for local referrals to adult day programs and emergency respite resources.
- If your loved one is a veteran, call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 to ask about respite options at your nearest VA medical center.
Not sure which Delaware respite program fits your situation? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized list based on your loved one's Medicaid enrollment and care needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Delaware's Personal Attendant Services programs allow Medicaid participants to hire their own attendants, including family members, for in-home care and respite. Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP+) can also authorize respite through the managed care plan. Contact the Delaware ADRC at 1-800-223-9074 to ask about eligibility.
Delaware's Personal Attendant Services allow participants to hire family members and friends. Whether a spouse specifically may be hired, and any restrictions that apply, should be confirmed with the Delaware ADRC at 1-800-223-9074, as the rules are not explicitly published in state guidance.
Yes. Delaware's Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test. Call the Delaware ADRC statewide line at 1-800-223-9074 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can request respite through their VA medical center. Primary Family Caregivers in PCAFC receive respite as part of the benefit package; confirm authorized days with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator. Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 to start.
Learn More
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Delaware
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Delaware
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Delaware 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.