New Hampshire family caregivers can access funded respite through the Gateway program and free NFCSP grants. VA programs are available through the Manchester VA Medical Center and community clinics 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 New Hampshire 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 1-866-634-9412 (NH DHHS aging and LTSS) or dial 211.
Funded Respite Options in New Hampshire
1. Gateway Program Personal Care and Self-Directed Attendant Care
What it is: The NH DHHS Division of Long Term Supports and Services (DLTSS) administers long-term services and supports for older adults and adults with disabilities in New Hampshire. The Gateway program, run through the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS), provides in-home personal care services for eligible adults. A self-directed attendant care option may be available under Gateway, allowing the care recipient to hire their own personal care worker, which may include a family member.
Can a family member be the paid caregiver? A self-directed option under Gateway may allow the care recipient to hire a family member as a paid personal care worker. Whether a spouse or specific family relationship is permitted should be confirmed with NH DHHS DLTSS at 1-866-634-9412, as the rules are program-specific and subject to the individual's authorized care plan.
How to access: Contact NH DHHS DLTSS at 1-866-634-9412 to ask about Gateway eligibility and the self-directed option available through BEAS.
Best for: New Hampshire families where the care recipient is enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid LTSS through the Gateway program.
2. NFCSP Grants Through New Hampshire'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 the NH Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services to 5 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: Call the NH DHHS DLTSS statewide line at 1-866-634-9412, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Best for: Any New Hampshire family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP is consistently underused and available at no cost.
3. Adult Day Services and Short-Term Facility Respite
What they are: Adult day services 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, consistent adult day attendance often stabilizes behavioral symptoms and restores reliable weekday hours for the caregiver.
Short-term facility respite places the care recipient in an assisted living community or nursing facility for days to several weeks. Many New Hampshire senior living communities offer short-stay arrangements; contact facilities in your area for pricing and availability.
Who pays: NFCSP grants through your regional AAA can offset adult day costs; NH Medicaid may cover adult day as part of a Gateway care plan; long-term care insurance often covers it; private-pay rates vary.
Finding programs: Call 1-866-634-9412 or dial 211 for referrals near you. Your regional AAA maintains a local directory.
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. The Manchester VA Medical Center serves veterans throughout New Hampshire, with community-based outpatient clinics in Conway, Keene, Littleton, Portsmouth, and Tilton.
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 New Hampshire
- Call 1-866-634-9412 (NH DHHS DLTSS) 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 NH DHHS DLTSS at 1-866-634-9412 to ask about Gateway eligibility and whether a family member can be the paid attendant under the self-directed option.
- 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 Manchester VA Medical Center.
Not sure which New Hampshire 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 Gateway program through NH DHHS Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services provides in-home personal care for eligible Medicaid members, and a self-directed option may allow family members to be hired as paid attendants. Contact NH DHHS DLTSS at 1-866-634-9412 to ask about eligibility.
A self-directed option under the Gateway program may allow a family member to be hired as a paid personal care worker. Whether a spouse or specific family relationship is permitted should be confirmed with NH DHHS DLTSS at 1-866-634-9412, as the rules depend on the individual's authorized care plan.
Yes. New Hampshire's 5 Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test. Call the NH DHHS DLTSS statewide line at 1-866-634-9412 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can request respite through the Manchester VA Medical Center or affiliated community clinics. 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 New Hampshire
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in New Hampshire
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in New Hampshire 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.