Maine family caregivers can access funded respite through MaineCare personal care and the Care Partner Supports program. NFCSP grants through 5 Area Agencies on Aging and VA programs add more options statewide.
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 Maine 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 1-877-353-3771 (Maine DHHS ADRC) or dial 211.
Funded Respite Options in Maine
1. MaineCare Personal Care Services
What it is: Maine DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) administers MaineCare home and community-based services for older adults and adults with disabilities. Section 17/18/19 coverage provides personal care services that help with daily living needs in the home, which can include care that gives family caregivers time to rest. Under these programs, family members may be eligible to serve as paid personal care providers.
Can a family member be the paid caregiver? MaineCare Section 17/18/19 may allow family members to be paid personal care providers. Whether a spouse may specifically serve as the paid worker is not clearly documented in published guidance and should be confirmed directly with MaineCare at 1-800-977-6740.
How to access: Contact MaineCare at 1-800-977-6740 or the Maine DHHS ADRC at 1-877-353-3771 to ask about eligibility and personal care options.
Best for: Families where the care recipient is enrolled in or eligible for MaineCare LTSS.
2. Care Partner Supports Program
What it is: The Care Partner Supports program, administered through Maine's five Area Agencies on Aging and funded through Maine DHHS OADS, provides respite and supplemental services directly to family caregivers of older adults and adults with disabilities. The program is designed to give caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities and to supplement their ability to provide ongoing care.
How to access: Contact the Maine DHHS ADRC at 1-877-353-3771 to reach your regional AAA and ask about Care Partner Supports eligibility and available services.
Best for: Maine family caregivers who need structured respite support and supplemental services, regardless of the care recipient's Medicaid enrollment.
3. NFCSP Grants Through Maine's 5 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 Maine DHHS OADS to 5 regional 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 Maine DHHS ADRC line at 1-877-353-3771, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Best for: Any Maine family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP and Care Partner Supports are both consistently underused statewide.
4. Adult Day Programs and Short-Term Facility Respite
What they are: Adult day programs provide structured daytime care, typically 4 to 8 hours per day, with meals, activities, social engagement, and health oversight. For caregivers of people with dementia, consistent adult day attendance often stabilizes behavioral symptoms and restores reliable weekday hours.
Short-term facility respite places the care recipient in an assisted living community or skilled nursing facility for days to several weeks. Many Maine senior living facilities offer short-stay arrangements; contact facilities in your area for availability.
Who pays: NFCSP and Care Partner Supports grants through your regional AAA can offset adult day costs; MaineCare may cover adult day as part of an authorized care plan; long-term care insurance often covers it; private-pay rates vary.
Finding programs: Call 1-877-353-3771 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 or contact the Caregiver Support Coordinator at the Togus VA Medical Center.
How to Start in Maine
- Call 1-877-353-3771 (Maine DHHS ADRC) to reach your regional Area Agency on Aging. They can connect you with Care Partner Supports, NFCSP respite grants, caregiver counseling, and local referrals at no cost.
- Contact MaineCare at 1-800-977-6740 if your loved one may qualify for personal care services. Ask whether a family member can serve as the paid provider.
- 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 and ask about respite options at the Togus VA Medical Center.
Not sure which Maine 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. MaineCare Section 17/18/19 personal care services cover in-home support for eligible members and may allow family members to be paid providers. The Care Partner Supports program through Maine's AAAs also funds respite directly for family caregivers. Contact the Maine DHHS ADRC at 1-877-353-3771 to learn about your options.
MaineCare Section 17/18/19 may allow family members to be paid personal care providers. Whether a spouse may specifically serve as the paid worker should be confirmed directly with MaineCare at 1-800-977-6740, as the rules are not clearly published in secondary guidance.
Yes. Maine's Care Partner Supports program and NFCSP funds are available through the state's 5 Area Agencies on Aging with no income test for respite services. Call the Maine DHHS ADRC at 1-877-353-3771 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can request respite through the Togus 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 Maine
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Maine
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Maine 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.