Every state has programs that can pay a family caregiver, fund respite, and support you through the hardest parts. The catch is that they are different in every state.
This directory links you to a complete caregiver programs guide for your state: who pays, who can be hired, the respite options, the VA benefits, and how it is all taxed. It also points you to the national guides that explain the concepts behind every state's programs.
Start with your state below, or read the national guides first to understand how the pieces fit together.
Start With the National Guides
These explain the concepts that appear in every state's programs:
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver covers the four pathways to a caregiver paycheck, and a link to every state.
- Respite Care for Family Caregivers shows how to find and fund a real break, in every state.
- Medicaid Self-Direction and Consumer-Directed Services explains the model that lets a family member be the paid caregiver.
- The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) covers the free, underused federal caregiver benefit in every state.
Find Your State's Caregiver Programs Guide
Each state guide is a complete directory: the programs that pay family caregivers, respite options, the local Area Agency on Aging, VA benefits, and taxes.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland (guide coming soon)
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Not sure where to start? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized plan based on your state, your loved one's Medicaid eligibility, and veteran status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every state offers free respite and caregiver support through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, a Medicaid program that usually includes a self-directed option to pay a family caregiver, and access to federal VA caregiver programs for veterans. The specifics vary; see your state's guide above.
It varies by program and the person's care needs, not just the state. VA programs (PCAFC) are often the most generous and are the same nationwide. Medicaid pay depends on each state's home-care wage and whether it pays a daily stipend or an hourly wage. Your state's guide has the current figures.
No. Some states allow paid spousal caregiving through Medicaid (such as Colorado, Wisconsin, Oregon, New Mexico, and Alabama); many do not. The VA's programs pay spouses in every state if your loved one is an eligible veteran. See How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver for the details.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging, reachable through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or by dialing 211, or use your state's guide above for the direct helpline.
Learn More
- Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Help: What to Watch For
- Getting Started as a Family Caregiver: A First-Steps Guide
- How to Find and Hire In-Home Care for an Aging Parent
- Long-Distance Caregiving: A Practical Guide
- FMLA for Family Caregivers: Your Right to Job-Protected Leave
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver: The 50-State Guide
- Respite Care for Family Caregivers: The 50-State Guide
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
Find personalized help navigating caregiver programs in your state 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.