Indiana family caregivers have real funded respite options available right now. Structured Family Caregiving pays a live-in caregiver a tax-free daily stipend, NFCSP grants through 16 Area Agencies on Aging are free with no income test, and PathWays for Aging MCEs coordinate in-home respite for enrolled members.
This guide maps every funded respite option in Indiana for 2026, including the programs most families never hear about.
Why Respite Matters
Research on family caregivers is consistent: access to regular respite delays nursing facility placement for the care recipient and protects the caregiver's own health. It is not time off from caring. It is what makes continued caring possible.
If you need emergency respite right now, call 211 or the Indiana FSSA Division of Aging at 1-800-986-3505.
Funded Respite Options in Indiana
1. Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)
What it is: Structured Family Caregiving pays a live-in family caregiver a tax-free daily stipend through a contracted provider agency. The caregiver must live full-time in the same home as the care recipient. SFC is available under PathWays for Aging (for Hoosiers age 60 and older), the Health and Wellness waiver, and the Aged and Disabled waiver. The care recipient must be enrolled in Medicaid, qualify for an HCBS waiver, and need a nursing facility level of care. Confirm the current daily stipend rate with the assigned MCE or provider agency.
Can a spouse be the paid SFC caregiver? Yes. Indiana is one of a small number of states where a spouse living in the same home can be the paid SFC caregiver. The caregiver must be at least 18, pass a background check, and be deemed physically and mentally capable. Power of Attorney holders who live with the recipient may also qualify.
How to access: Contact your PathWays MCE (Anthem, Humana, or UnitedHealthcare) or the Indiana FSSA Division of Aging to discuss SFC eligibility and authorized provider agencies in your area.
2. Attendant Care (ATTC) Respite Hours for Family Members
What it is: Indiana Attendant Care (ATTC) is an hourly self-directed personal care service under PathWays for Aging, the Health and Wellness waiver, and the Aged and Disabled waiver. The care recipient directs their own attendant.
Who can be the paid attendant: Non-LRI adult children, siblings, and other relatives can be hired under ATTC. Legally Responsible Individuals (LRIs), including spouses and parents of minor children, cannot start new ATTC arrangements as of July 1, 2024. Spouses should use SFC instead.
How to access: Talk to the PathWays MCE care manager. ATTC can include hours designated as respite within the authorized care plan.
3. PathWays for Aging MCE Coordination
What it is: PathWays for Aging launched July 1, 2024, for Hoosiers age 60 and older on Medicaid or dual Medicare-Medicaid. Three MCEs operate the program: Anthem Blue Cross, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. PathWays integrates SFC and ATTC with acute care; the MCE care manager coordinates adding respite to the plan. Financial eligibility: income up to approximately $2,982 per month and countable assets up to $2,000 (confirm current figures with FSSA).
How to access: Contact your MCE or the Indiana FSSA Division of Aging at 1-800-986-3505.
4. NFCSP Grants Through Indiana's 16 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 Indiana FSSA Division of Aging to 16 regional Area Agencies on Aging statewide. Each AAA provides in-home respite, adult day vouchers, 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. No income test.
How to access: Call the FSSA Division of Aging statewide line at 1-800-986-3505, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
5. VA Respite for Veterans
What it is: Veterans enrolled in VA Health Care can access respite through VA medical facilities serving Indiana, including in-home aide services, adult day health care, and short-term facility respite.
PCAFC: Primary Family Caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers receive respite as part of their benefit package. Confirm authorized services with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator at your medical center.
Veteran-Directed Care: VA Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) gives eligible veterans a flexible monthly budget to hire and direct their own caregivers. Availability varies by site.
How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
How to Start in Indiana
- Call 1-800-986-3505 (Indiana FSSA Division of Aging) to reach your regional AAA for NFCSP respite grants and caregiver counseling at no cost.
- Talk to the PathWays MCE care manager if your loved one is enrolled in PathWays for Aging or an HCBS waiver. Ask for SFC or ATTC respite to be added to the care plan.
- If you are a live-in spouse or family member, ask specifically about SFC. It pays you directly and allows a spouse as the paid caregiver, unlike ATTC.
- Dial 211 for local referrals to adult day programs and emergency respite.
- If your loved one is a veteran, call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 and ask about respite options in Indiana.
Not sure which Indiana respite program fits your family? 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. SFC, ATTC, and PathWays for Aging all provide funded respite through Indiana Medicaid HCBS waivers. SFC pays a live-in caregiver a daily stipend; ATTC covers hourly self-directed attendant hours. Talk to the PathWays MCE care manager to add respite to the authorized plan.
Yes, through SFC. Indiana explicitly allows a spouse who lives in the same home to be the paid SFC caregiver (at least 18, background check, physically and mentally capable). ATTC does not allow new spousal arrangements as of July 1, 2024; SFC is the program for live-in spouses.
Yes. Indiana's 16 Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test and no Medicaid enrollment required. Call the FSSA Division of Aging at 1-800-986-3505 or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
SFC pays a live-in caregiver a daily stipend and allows spouses. ATTC pays by the hour and does not allow new LRI (spouse or parent of minor) arrangements after July 1, 2024. SFC fits a family member who lives with the care recipient; ATTC works when a non-spouse relative provides scheduled hours.
Learn More
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Indiana
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Ohio
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Senior Care Benefits in Indiana
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Indiana 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.