Respite Care in Ohio (2026): How to Get a Break, NFCSP, Alzheimer's Respite, VA, Medicaid Waivers, and Adult Day

You have probably been told to "take care of yourself first." Most caregivers hear that and quietly translate it into "yes, but how, and when, and with whose money." If you have not had a real day off in months, you are not failing. The Ohio respite system is set up so most families discover it years after they could have used it, usually after a crisis has already happened.

This guide is the early intervention. Every legitimate way to get a break in Ohio in 2026, what each one pays for, who qualifies, and the order to call them in. You do not have to be on Medicaid. You do not have to be a paid caregiver. You do not have to wait until you are at the breaking point. You just have to know what to ask for and who to ask.

The single most useful sentence in this guide is at the bottom of the next section. Read to it and you will already know more than most Ohio caregivers will learn in their entire caregiving year.

The Ohio respite stack at a glance, 2026.

• Title III-E NFCSP, federal Older Americans Act respite, runs through all 12 Ohio AAAs. No income test. Case-managed individually; Ohio AAAs do not publish a statewide voucher dollar amount.
• Ohio Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item, state-funded annual appropriation flowing through the 12 AAAs to support dementia family caregivers. Stacks with NFCSP and waiver respite.
• Medicaid waiver respite under PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, the MyCare Ohio Waiver, and the three DODD waivers. Authorized in the service plan.
• VA respite, at least 30 days per year of nursing home or Community Living Center respite under VHA program rules, plus uncapped in-home and Adult Day Health Care respite case-managed by the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator. PCAFC families have an additional respite entitlement.
• Adult Day Services, the most overlooked respite in Ohio. ODA-certified at Enhanced or Intensive levels. AdultDayOhio.org is the directory. Free or near-free for Medicaid and dementia families.
• County senior services tax levies in most Ohio counties fund non-Medicaid respite. The two largest are the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio's Elderly Services Program (ESP) in Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren counties, and Franklin County Senior Options (FCSO) in Franklin County.
• Volunteer respite through AmeriCorps Senior Companion (Cincinnati, Columbus, Appalachian Ohio) and Faith in Action / Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (Clark, Medina, Lawrence). Federal funding is active in 2026; confirm current availability with your local sponsor.

The most useful number in Ohio respite is 1-866-243-5678, the Ohio Department of Aging caregiver-support / AAA warm-transfer line. That one call connects you to your local AAA's caregiver specialist, who can pull from NFCSP, the state Alzheimer's line item, your county levy, Medicaid waiver respite (if applicable), and the AAA's volunteer network in one conversation.

By Brevy Care Team

What respite actually is, and why families avoid it

Respite means a planned, paid-for break, usually a few hours, sometimes a few days, sometimes a week, while someone else provides the care your loved one needs. It is not a vacation from being a caregiver. It is a vacation from doing the work alone every minute of every day.

Most families do not use respite even when they qualify for free hours. The reasons are usually some combination of these.

• You feel guilty asking for help. You are not sure your mom would want a stranger in the house. You think you should be able to do this.
• You do not know what to ask for. "Respite" is a clinical word; nobody handed you a brochure.
• You tried once, the person you cared for refused, and you stopped trying.
• You are afraid that if you start using respite, you will be judged or that someone will notice something is wrong.
• You have been holding it together for so long that taking a break feels like admitting you cannot.

The honest answer to all of those is: the system was built for families like yours, and the people who built it expected you to feel exactly this way. Take the help anyway. Caregivers who use respite get sick less often, are less likely to require their own hospitalization, and are more likely to keep their loved one at home longer, which is usually what the family wants in the first place. The data is consistent enough that the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program, the Ohio Department of Aging, the VA, and every Medicaid HCBS waiver explicitly fund respite as a primary benefit. They are not doing this as a courtesy. They are doing it because keeping you healthy keeps the whole system working.

If reading this is the closest you have gotten to asking for help, call 1-866-243-5678 when you finish the section. Ask for the family caregiver specialist. You do not have to commit to anything on the first call.

Programs at a glance

NFCSP, the Title III-E backbone

The National Family Caregiver Support Program is authorized under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act and flows federal dollars through the Administration for Community Living to the Ohio Department of Aging and then on to Ohio's 12 Area Agencies on Aging. Every Ohio AAA has an NFCSP program; every NFCSP program funds respite.

Two facts shape how it works in Ohio in 2026.

There is no income test. NFCSP is open to caregivers of adults 60 and older, regardless of income, plus a separate grandparents-raising-grandchildren stream. You do not need to be poor; you do not need a Medicaid card.

There is also no statewide voucher dollar amount. This is the part that throws families off. In some other states, NFCSP comes with a quarterly voucher you can spend at any participating provider. In Ohio, AAAs use what is called a provider-payment model: the AAA's family caregiver specialist authorizes a respite plan (so many hours per week at this agency, so many days at this adult day, a short-term residential stay at that nursing facility), the provider invoices the AAA directly, and you the caregiver do not see a dollar amount on a voucher. The respite hours are real; the dollar number on a piece of paper is not how Ohio does it.

That means the most accurate answer to "how much NFCSP respite can I get?" is "call your AAA's caregiver specialist and let them assess." Some AAAs case-manage continuously throughout the year; others (notably Franklin County Office on Aging) limit short-term assistance to a three-month window within a calendar year. The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio runs respite at no cost to qualifying families, mixing NFCSP with the state Alzheimer's line item and the county levy.

NFCSP also funds caregiver education and training (Powerful Tools for Caregivers, Savvy Caregiver, REACH II depending on the AAA), counseling, support groups, supplemental supplies (incontinence supplies, durable medical equipment), and information and referral. Respite is the headline, but the supporting services keep many families going between respite hours.

The Ohio Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item

This is the program most Ohio dementia families have never heard of, and it is the most generous state-funded caregiver respite in the country.

Ohio's main operating budget includes a dedicated line item for "Alzheimer's and Other Dementia Respite." The money flows from ODA to the 12 AAAs by population-based formula, with a required pass-through to local Alzheimer's Association chapters.

The line item funds in-home respite, adult day attendance, short-term residential respite, family-directed respite (your AAA can sometimes pay a chosen helper directly), caregiver education and support groups, and personal care. It is in addition to Title III-E NFCSP and Medicaid waiver respite, not a substitute for them.

You access it the same way you access NFCSP, through your AAA's caregiver specialist, but with one extra ask: when you call 1-866-243-5678, say specifically, "I am caring for someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia. Can you authorize respite under the state Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item?" If you do not name it, you might still get NFCSP respite, but you may miss the more flexible dementia-specific funding the state set aside for you. The wording matters.

In parallel, call your local Alzheimer's Association chapter (the national 24/7 helpline at 1-800-272-3900 will route you). The chapter runs free care consultations and can often coordinate with your AAA so you do not have to make duplicate calls.

The six Alzheimer's Association chapters serving Ohio are Greater Cincinnati, Miami Valley (Dayton), Central Ohio (Columbus), Cleveland Area, Greater East Ohio (Akron-Canton-Mahoning Valley), and Northwest Ohio (Toledo). Each runs free care consultations, evidence-based caregiver training (Savvy Caregiver, Powerful Tools for Caregivers), in-person and virtual support groups, and the early-stage social engagement program.

Medicaid waiver respite

If your loved one is enrolled in an Ohio Medicaid HCBS waiver, respite is built into the service plan. The mechanics differ slightly by waiver.

PASSPORT respite

PASSPORT is the older-adult HCBS waiver, run by ODA through the 12 AAAs. Respite is a covered service under OAC 5160-31; in-home and out-of-home delivery are both authorized. The participant's case manager writes the days/hours into the service plan based on care needs and caregiver burden. There is no statewide cap that fits every case; ask your case manager what your annual respite budget looks like.

Ohio Home Care Waiver respite

The Ohio Home Care Waiver is the under-60 analog, run by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Respite is covered under OAC 5160-46 with similar mechanics: in-home or facility, authorized by the ODM care manager in the service plan.

MyCare Ohio Waiver respite

MyCare Ohio serves Ohio's dual-eligible adults (Medicare and Medicaid). The 2026 transition to Next Generation MyCare rolled out the new Fully Integrated Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (FIDE-SNP) structure beginning January 1, 2026 in 29 counties; statewide by August 1, 2026. The new MyCare Ohio Waiver bundles respite into the FIDE-SNP capitation. Ask your MyCare plan's member services or your care manager to authorize the hours.

DODD waiver respite

The three DODD waivers (the Individual Options Waiver, the Level One Waiver, and the SELF Waiver) all include respite as a coded service under OAC 5123. Enrollment, authorization, and service coordination run through your County Board of Developmental Disabilities. DODD respite is usually planned around the family's regular schedule (weekends, summer breaks, working parents' workdays) rather than as one-off emergency relief.

What Medicaid waiver respite usually looks like in practice

For most PASSPORT and OHCW families, the case manager writes respite into the plan in one of three forms: a block of in-home hours per quarter or year, a number of days of short-term residential respite per year, or coverage of adult day attendance several days a week. The exact number depends on the participant's level of care and the caregiver's documented needs. Ask the case manager to walk through every line of the service plan with you and explain which lines are respite. Many families have respite hours authorized that they have never used.

VA respite

If your loved one is a veteran enrolled at one of Ohio's five VA Medical Centers (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Chillicothe), there are two distinct VA respite benefits to know, and they are often confused.

General VA respite

Any VA-enrolled veteran who meets clinical criteria (needs help with activities of daily living, social worker concurrence) is eligible. Three delivery options:

• In-home respite, a VA-contracted home health aide comes to the veteran's home.
• Adult Day Health Care (ADHC), the veteran attends a VA-contracted adult day program.
• Nursing home / Community Living Center respite, the veteran has a short inpatient stay at a VA CLC or a VA-contracted community nursing home, up to 30 days per calendar year.

In-home and ADHC respite are case-managed by the veteran's VA Caregiver Support Coordinator without a separate annual cap; the 30-day ceiling applies to the nursing-home/CLC modality. Copay depends on the veteran's Priority Group and Form 10-10EC determination; contact your VA Caregiver Support Coordinator for current amounts.

Source: VA Geriatrics Respite Care; VA Caregiver Support Respite.

PCAFC respite

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is the VA's structured stipend program for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. PCAFC caregivers approved as Primary Family Caregivers have a stronger respite entitlement: at least 30 days per year, with the possibility of more if clinically appropriate and requested by the caregiver.

The 30 days is a floor, not a ceiling. Your VA Caregiver Support Coordinator can walk you through what this means in practice for your specific situation.

How the two interact

The honest answer most VA Caregiver Support Coordinators give: do not think of these as two separate buckets you stack. A PCAFC-approved caregiver is also caring for a VA-enrolled veteran, so all of the general VA respite pathways are also on the table. The Caregiver Support Coordinator coordinates them together. Call 1-855-260-3274 and ask the coordinator to walk you through your full respite entitlement, not just the headline 30 days.

Adult day, the most overlooked respite option in Ohio

If you have not considered an adult day program, you are leaving the most cost-effective respite option on the table. A care recipient who attends adult day three days a week gives you back roughly 24 hours of caregiver time at a cost most families can absorb, and dementia-specific programs are often the highlight of the participant's week.

Adult day in Ohio is certified by the Ohio Department of Aging at one of two service levels.

• Enhanced is the social model with supervision, activities, meals, and basic personal care.
• Intensive adds skilled care, medication administration, and nursing oversight for higher-acuity participants.

Intensive-certified providers can also deliver enhanced-level service. There is no separate Department of Health license for adult day in Ohio; ODA is the operative regulator.

The statewide directory is AdultDayOhio.org. Search by county to find centers near you, compare service levels, and read profiles.

Private-pay rates vary by center and service level. Contact individual centers or use AdultDayOhio.org to request current pricing. For many families, a full-day adult day program is more cost-effective than equivalent hours of in-home aide coverage.

Coverage by Medicaid waivers and other payers:

• PASSPORT (OAC 5160-31), Ohio Home Care Waiver (OAC 5160-46), MyCare Ohio Waiver (OAC 5160-58), and the DODD waivers all cover adult day. No out-of-pocket cost to the participant.
• VA Adult Day Health Care is a respite delivery option for VA-enrolled veterans meeting clinical criteria.
• The state Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item pays for adult day for dementia families through AAA authorization.
• NFCSP pays for adult day attendance for NFCSP-served caregivers through AAA authorization.
• County levy-funded programs (ESP, FCSO, other county Office on Aging programs) pay for adult day for non-Medicaid older adults.

If your loved one has dementia and resists the idea of "going somewhere," ask the adult day staff about a one-day trial. Most Ohio centers run dementia-specific programming with reminiscence therapy, structured activities, and supervised meals. The first day is often the hardest, and many families report their loved one looks forward to it within two weeks.

Faith-based and volunteer respite

There is real free respite available in Ohio that does not appear on any AAA program list, because the providers are volunteers.

AmeriCorps Senior Companion programs

AmeriCorps Senior Companion is a federal program that pays a small tax-free stipend to volunteer seniors (55 and older) who provide companionship and respite to other older adults. The volunteer sits with the care recipient for a block of hours, usually weekdays during the day, so the family caregiver can leave the house. No cost to the family.

Funding note for 2026: Federal AmeriCorps Seniors funding has been subject to federal budget uncertainty in recent years. Programs are active in 2026, but future funding depends on annual federal appropriations. Call your local sponsor for the latest before counting on a year-long commitment.

Confirmed Ohio Senior Companion sponsors operating in 2026:

• Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio (Hamilton and Clermont counties primary). Phone: 513-241-7745 (Cincinnati) or 513-863-6129 (Hamilton). Source: ccswoh.org.
• Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) serving Appalachian Ohio counties (Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Ross, Scioto, Vinton via one sponsor; Adams and Brown via another). General COAD line: 740-594-8499.
• Catholic Social Services Central Ohio (Columbus metro). Site supervisor Margo Arnold, marnold@colscss.org.

Faith in Action and Interfaith Volunteer Caregiver programs

The national Faith in Action model coordinates interfaith volunteer caregivers (lay volunteers from various faith communities) who do friendly visiting, telephone reassurance, transportation, errands, and short-term respite, no charge to the family, no income test.

Confirmed Ohio chapters in 2026:

• Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Clark County (Springfield). Services include short-term respite for family caregivers.
• Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers (Medina).
• Faith in Action of the River Cities, serves Cabell and northern Wayne counties in West Virginia and limited areas in Lawrence County, Ohio.

Faith in Action coverage in Ohio is patchy. Many counties have parish-nurse or congregation-based volunteer companion programs that do not show up in online directories. The best way to find one is to call your AAA's caregiver specialist and ask, "Is there a Faith in Action chapter, an interfaith volunteer caregiver program, or a parish-nurse program in my county that does friendly visiting or short-term respite?" Many specialists keep a list.

Catholic Charities Caregiver Assistance Network

Cincinnati's Caregiver Assistance Network (run by Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio since 1996) is the most developed regional caregiver-support program in Ohio. The CAREline is 513-869-4483. CAN runs monthly support groups (340+ caregivers across five primary counties), the Powerful Tools for Caregivers six-week class on a rolling cadence, topic-specific workshops, and resource consultation. The CAN service area is Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, and Clinton counties primary, with extended coverage in Brown, Adams, Highland, Champaign, Logan, and Clark.

County senior services tax levies

Ohio does not have a single statewide non-Medicaid caregiver-support program. What Ohio has instead is a county-by-county system of senior services tax levies that fund non-Medicaid respite, adult day, and in-home care.

Most Ohio counties have at least one senior services tax levy. Per-capita funding varies considerably across counties—some invest significantly more per senior than others. Not every county has a levy, so coverage depends entirely on where you live.

The two best-documented county levy programs:

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, Elderly Services Program (ESP)

Available in Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren counties. Eligibility: age 60+ (Clinton County 65+), ineligible for services through Medicaid or another payer. Income is not used to determine eligibility, but cost-sharing may apply on a sliding scale. Services covered: personal care, homemaker, home-delivered meals, transportation, home modifications, durable medical equipment, emergency response systems, adult day services, respite care, and care management. Phone: 800-252-0155, Option 2.

Franklin County Senior Options (FCSO)

Available in Franklin County (Columbus) only. Eligibility: age 60+ Franklin County residents, sliding-scale fee program, non-Medicaid. Services: homemaker, home-delivered meals, personal care, transportation, emergency response, adult day, supplies. Funded by Franklin County's senior services tax levy. Phone: 614-525-6200.

Everywhere else in Ohio

If you do not live in one of those five counties, call your AAA's caregiver specialist and ask, "What does my county's senior services levy fund for non-Medicaid respite?" Many counties have ESP-style programs that are not widely advertised. Cuyahoga County operates aging services through its Health and Human Services levy; Montgomery County does the same; some suburban counties invest heavily in senior services levy programs. The answer depends on where you live.

Private-pay respite costs in Ohio, 2026

If you are paying privately, the math matters. Here is what you should expect.

In-home aide: hourly rates vary by metro and agency. Major metros run higher; rural and Appalachian counties tend to run lower. Call two or three licensed home care agencies for current quotes in your area.

Adult day services: per-day rates vary by center and service level (Enhanced vs. Intensive). Use AdultDayOhio.org to find centers and request current pricing.

Short-term residential respite at an Ohio nursing facility: billed at the facility's standard semi-private room rate, which varies significantly by metro vs. rural location. Call individual facilities for current daily rates.

Short-term respite at an Ohio assisted living facility: pricing is highly facility-specific and may include an intake or admission fee. Call individual facilities for current rates.

Medicare hospice respite, if your loved one is on Medicare hospice (terminal diagnosis, six-month prognosis), Medicare covers short-term inpatient respite at a Medicare-certified hospital, SNF, or inpatient hospice facility per episode. A cost-sharing amount applies, capped at the Part A inpatient deductible ($1,736 in 2026). There is no hard annual cap on how many episodes you can use, but the benefit is intended for occasional use.

Medicare does not otherwise cover non-hospice respite. The bulk of paid respite for non-hospice families is either out of pocket, NFCSP/state Alzheimer's/county levy, or Medicaid waiver.

The broader point: even modest paid private respite is unaffordable for most middle-income Ohio families, which is exactly why NFCSP, the state Alzheimer's respite line item, the county levies, and Medicaid waiver respite matter so much. Use them.

A stacking strategy that actually works

Here is a real-world example of how a dementia family in Ohio can combine several programs for substantial respite at low or no cost.

A daughter is caring for her 78-year-old mother in Hamilton County, Ohio. Mother has moderate-stage Alzheimer's, lives in her own home, and qualifies for PASSPORT but is on a waiver waitlist. The daughter has been awake at night for three months.

Her stack:

1. AAA1 (Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio) authorizes 8 hours per week of in-home respite under NFCSP and the state Alzheimer's & Dementia Respite line item. No cost. Provided by a participating home care agency.
2. AAA1 also authorizes 3 days per week of adult day at an ODA-certified Enhanced-level center. Mother goes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9 to 3. Funded by the state Alzheimer's line item plus the Hamilton County senior services levy (ESP overlay).
3. The Alzheimer's Association Greater Cincinnati Chapter sets up a monthly care consultation for the daughter, runs a weekly support group, and connects her to Powerful Tools for Caregivers.
4. When PASSPORT enrollment comes through, the case manager rewrites the plan to add 14 days of nursing-facility respite per year, which the daughter uses for two separate week-long stays so she can take a vacation and attend a family wedding.
5. An AmeriCorps Senior Companion volunteer from CCSWOH visits twice a week for two hours of companionship for mother during the daughter's commute home from work.

Total caregiver respite per week: 8 hours in-home + 18 hours adult day + 4 hours volunteer = 30 hours. Cost to the family: $0 (some voluntary contribution from mother's income to ESP). Plus 14 days per year of full nursing-facility respite.

This stack is real, used by Ohio families, and is the kind of arrangement an AAA caregiver specialist can put together for you in a series of conversations over a few weeks. You do not have to figure it out alone.

Common misconceptions

"Respite is only for end-of-life situations." Respite is preventive. The federal evidence base for funding respite was always about keeping caregivers healthy enough to keep their loved one at home longer, well before any crisis.

"I have to be a paid caregiver to qualify." No. NFCSP, the state Alzheimer's line item, county levies, and VA respite are all open to unpaid family caregivers.

"My loved one will hate it." Many do at first. The data is consistent that within a few weeks of a structured adult day or in-home aide arrangement, most participants engage and look forward to it, especially in dementia-specific programs.

"There is a statewide NFCSP voucher amount." There is not. Ohio AAAs case-manage respite individually. Do not let anyone quote you a specific dollar figure that they cannot tie to a specific authorization from your AAA.

"Medicare will pay for short-term residential respite." Only under hospice. Otherwise, no.

"PCAFC caregivers get an extra 30 days of respite on top of the general VA respite." Not quite. The 30 days for PCAFC is a floor, not a separate bucket added on top. Your VA Caregiver Support Coordinator coordinates all respite together.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be on Medicaid to get respite in Ohio?

No. Title III-E NFCSP, the state Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item, county senior services levy programs (like ESP and FCSO), and volunteer programs (Senior Companion, Faith in Action) all serve non-Medicaid families. If you are on Medicaid, you have additional respite through PASSPORT, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, MyCare Ohio, or the DODD waivers, but Medicaid is not a prerequisite.

How many hours of respite can I get per year?

There is no universal answer in Ohio. Your local AAA's family caregiver specialist will assess your situation and authorize a respite plan based on your needs, your loved one's level of care, and the AAA's current funding mix (NFCSP, state Alzheimer's, county levy, Title IIIB). Ask specifically what is being authorized and from which funding stream. Many Ohio families combine multiple streams to reach 20-30 hours per week.

Can I choose my own respite provider?

Most Ohio AAAs use an agency-authorization model, meaning the AAA authorizes a participating home care agency or adult day center and pays the provider directly. You typically do not get a cash voucher to spend wherever you like. Some AAAs and some programs (especially the participant-directed Medicaid waiver pathways) do allow you to choose a specific worker subject to AAA approval. Ask your specialist about caregiver-directed options.

Will my loved one need to leave home for respite?

Not unless you want them to. In-home respite is the most common modality in Ohio. Adult day requires the participant to travel to a center for the day. Short-term residential respite at a nursing facility or assisted living facility requires an overnight stay. The choice is yours within the funding available; you do not have to use any modality you are not comfortable with.

What if my parent refuses respite?

This is the hardest question in caregiving. Two practical suggestions. First, reframe the conversation, "the [home care aide / adult day program] is to help me, so I can keep being here for you" lands better than "you need supervision." Second, start with the shortest commitment, a 2-hour in-home shift, or one trial day at adult day. Many families report the participant accepts the second visit after experiencing the first. Your AAA caregiver specialist and your Alzheimer's Association chapter (if dementia is in the picture) have heard this conversation hundreds of times and can coach you through it.

Is the AmeriCorps Senior Companion program still operating in Ohio in 2026?

Yes, with a caveat. Federal AmeriCorps Seniors funding has been subject to federal budget uncertainty, and individual sponsors have faced funding disruptions. Programs are active in 2026, but the future depends on annual federal appropriations. Call your local sponsor directly for the latest.

What is the difference between NFCSP respite and the state Alzheimer's respite line item?

NFCSP is federal Older Americans Act Title III-E money flowing to all 12 Ohio AAAs, serving caregivers of any adult 60+. The state Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item is state money appropriated by the Ohio General Assembly specifically for dementia families, with a required pass-through from the AAA to the local Alzheimer's Association chapter. The two stack; a dementia caregiver can receive respite funded by both at the same time. Always name the state line item when you call your AAA so the specialist authorizes the more flexible dementia funding.

What if I just need someone to talk to?

Three places. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 if your loved one is a veteran (open to non-veteran caregivers too). The Alzheimer's Association national 24/7 helpline is 1-800-272-3900. Your local AAA's caregiver specialist (call 1-866-243-5678 to get routed) handles counseling and referral as part of NFCSP. None of those calls cost anything, and all of them are staffed by people who specialize in this conversation.

How to use your AAA to access respite, step by step

1. Call 1-866-243-5678. ODA routes you to your county's AAA.
2. Ask for the Family Caregiver Support Specialist (different AAAs use slightly different titles; the intake operator will know who you mean).
3. Describe your situation in plain language. "I care for my mother who has Alzheimer's; I have not had a real day off in months; I do not know what is available."
4. Ask specifically about each of these funding streams: Title III-E NFCSP respite, the state Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite line item (if applicable), your county senior services levy (if applicable), Title IIIB Older Americans Act services, and any Lifespan Respite funding the AAA may still have.
5. Ask about adult day as a separate respite option, not just in-home.
6. Ask about your Medicaid status. If your loved one is on Medicaid or might qualify, ask the specialist to warm-transfer you to PASSPORT or OHCW enrollment.
7. Get a written respite plan. Many AAAs do not produce a formal document automatically; ask for a written summary of what has been authorized, by whom, for how long, and how to use it.
8. Follow up if you do not hear back within 10 business days. Caseloads are high; the squeaky wheel gets the early authorization.

Learn more

• Caregiver Programs in Ohio: A Complete Directory, the master index of every Ohio caregiver-support program.
• How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Ohio, the deep walkthrough if Medicaid waiver respite is on the table.
• Ohio Medicaid, eligibility and the application process.
• Next Generation MyCare, the 2026 FIDE-SNP transition.
• HCBS Waiver Glossary, what the §1915(c) authority actually does.

Useful phone numbers

• 1-866-243-5678, Ohio Department of Aging caregiver-support / AAA warm-transfer
• 1-800-266-4346, ODA general line
• 211, statewide community-resource navigation (all 88 Ohio counties as of April 2026)
• 1-800-272-3900, Alzheimer's Association national 24/7 helpline
• 1-855-260-3274, VA Caregiver Support Line
• 513-869-4483, Catholic Charities SW Ohio Caregiver Assistance Network CAREline
• 800-252-0155 Option 2, COA SW Ohio Caregiver Support
• 614-525-6200, Franklin County Office on Aging

Not sure where to start?

If you have read this far and you are still not sure who to call first, the honest answer is: it does not matter. Start with 1-866-243-5678. Whoever picks up will route you to the right person. You do not need to know what NFCSP stands for, you do not need to have Medicaid figured out, you do not need to convince anyone that your situation is bad enough. The system was built for families who have not slept well in three months and are too tired to know what they need.

Polaris, our on-site chatbot, can walk through the Ohio respite stack with you in plain English, ask anything (how to talk to your mom about adult day, how to pick between programs, what to expect on the first call). Free, no signup, conversation private to your family.

Find personalized help navigating Ohio respite care at brevy.com.

This guide was last verified on May 11, 2026. Ohio respite programs, AAA contact information, NFCSP allocations, state appropriations under HB 96, AmeriCorps Senior Companion funding, and VA respite rules change. We re-verify this guide annually and after any major legislative or regulatory change. Information here is general; for advice specific to your family, talk with your local AAA's caregiver specialist, your county Office on Aging, your VAMC Caregiver Support Coordinator, your loved one's Medicaid case manager, or your local Alzheimer's Association chapter.