Mississippi family caregivers can access funded respite through the Elderly and Disabled waiver and free NFCSP grants. VA medical centers in Jackson and Biloxi offer additional options for veteran families.
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 Mississippi 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 1-800-677-1116 (Eldercare Locator) or dial 211.
Funded Respite Options in Mississippi
1. Elderly and Disabled Waiver Personal Care Services
What it is: The Mississippi Division of Medicaid administers the Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver, which provides Personal Care Services (PCS) to eligible individuals who need nursing-facility-level care but choose to live in their home or community. Personal care services cover non-medical assistance with activities of daily living and can provide caregiver relief. The income limit for HCBS waiver eligibility is $2,982 per month (2026).
Can a family member be the paid caregiver? Mississippi does not have a widely documented formal consumer-directed option equivalent to some other states. Whether a family member, including a spouse, may be hired as a paid personal care attendant under the E&D waiver should be confirmed directly with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 or the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
How to access: Contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 to ask about E&D waiver eligibility and available personal care services.
Best for: Mississippi families where the care recipient meets the income limit and nursing-facility level of care requirement.
2. NFCSP Grants Through Mississippi'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 Mississippi Department of Human Services to regional Area Agencies on Aging statewide. 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: Use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional Area Agency on Aging in Mississippi.
Best for: Any Mississippi family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP is consistently underused and available at no cost.
3. 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 varying levels of 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 a few days to several weeks. Many Mississippi senior living facilities offer short-stay arrangements; contact facilities in your area for pricing.
Who pays: NFCSP grants through your regional AAA can offset adult day costs; Mississippi Medicaid may cover adult day as part of an authorized care plan; long-term care insurance often covers it; private-pay rates vary by facility.
Finding programs: Call 1-800-677-1116 or dial 211 for referrals near you.
4. 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. VA medical centers in Mississippi include the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson and the Gulf Coast VA Health Care System in Biloxi.
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 Mississippi
- Call 1-800-677-1116 (Eldercare Locator) to reach your regional Area Agency on Aging. They can connect you with NFCSP respite grants, caregiver counseling, and local referrals at no cost.
- Contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 if your loved one may qualify for the E&D waiver. Ask about Personal Care Services eligibility and any consumer-directed options available.
- 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 Jackson or Biloxi VA medical centers.
Not sure which Mississippi 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. The Elderly and Disabled (E&D) waiver covers Personal Care Services for eligible members living at home who meet the nursing-facility level of care requirement. The income limit for HCBS waiver eligibility is $2,982 per month (2026). Contact the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408 to ask about eligibility.
Mississippi's consumer-directed options are not as clearly published as in some other states. Whether a family member or spouse may be hired as a paid personal care attendant under the E&D waiver should be confirmed directly with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid at 1-800-421-2408.
Yes. Mississippi's Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test. Use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can request respite through the Jackson or Biloxi VA medical centers. 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 Mississippi
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Mississippi
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Mississippi 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.