Utah family caregivers have several funded respite options available right now. EPAS can include respite hours for working adults with disabilities, Medicaid HCBS waivers authorize in-home respite through care plans, and NFCSP grants through 12 Area Agencies on Aging are free with no income test.
This guide maps every funded respite option in Utah for 2026, with the details that matter most: who qualifies, who can be the paid worker, and where to call first.
Why Respite Matters
The families that keep a loved one at home longest are the ones who built in regular respite before the crisis hit. Respite is not stepping back from the role. It is how you sustain it.
If you need emergency respite right now, call 211 or Utah Aging and Adult Services at 1-877-424-4640.
Funded Respite Options in Utah
1. EPAS for Working Adults with Disabilities
What it is: Utah Employment-related Personal Assistant Services (EPAS) is a Medicaid self-directed benefit for people with disabilities who are employed and need personal assistance to remain working. The participant acts as the employer and selects, hires, and directs their own personal assistant. EPAS service hours can include respite care within the authorized plan.
EPAS and waivers: EPAS is a standalone state plan benefit. People enrolled in a 1915(c) HCBS waiver (such as the Aging Waiver or Physical Disabilities Waiver) cannot receive EPAS at the same time; the waiver program is the respite route for waiver enrollees.
Who can be the paid EPAS worker: Adult children, siblings, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other relatives age 16 or older may be hired. A spouse or parent of a minor child cannot be the EPAS personal assistant because the assistant may not be the participant's legal guardian.
Who qualifies for EPAS: Working adults with disabilities enrolled in Utah Medicaid who are not simultaneously on an HCBS waiver.
How to access: Contact Utah Medicaid directly at medicaid.utah.gov/ltc-2/epas/ for current enrollment steps.
Best for: Working adults with disabilities who self-direct their care and want a non-spouse family member or friend as their paid assistant.
2. Aging Waiver and Physical Disabilities Waiver In-Home Respite
What they are: Utah offers several Medicaid 1915(c) HCBS waivers that fund in-home and community services for older adults and people with disabilities. The two most relevant for caregiver respite are:
- Aging Waiver: For adults age 65 and older who require an institutional level of care. In-home respite is included as a covered service within the care plan. Referrals come through the Area Agency on Aging.
- Physical Disabilities Waiver: For adults whose disability began before age 22, or who have physical disabilities. Covered services include personal care assistance and consumer direction training.
New Choices Waiver: Serves adults age 65 and older (or ages 21 to 64 meeting SSA disability criteria) transitioning from institutional settings back to the community. Worth discussing with the case manager if a family member is moving home from a facility.
How to access: Contact Utah Medicaid Long-Term Care and Waiver Programs directly, or ask your regional AAA to facilitate a referral to the Aging Waiver.
3. NFCSP Grants Through Utah's 12 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 Utah Department of Human Services Aging and Adult Services to 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging statewide. Each AAA provides in-home respite, adult day vouchers, 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. No income test.
How to access: Call Utah Aging and Adult Services at 1-877-424-4640, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
4. VA Respite for Veterans
What it is: Veterans enrolled in VA Health Care can access respite through VA medical facilities serving Utah, including in-home aide services, adult day health care, and short-term facility respite.
PCAFC: Primary Family Caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers receive respite as part of their benefit package. Confirm authorized services with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator at your medical center.
Veteran-Directed Care: VA Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) gives eligible veterans a flexible monthly budget to hire and direct their own caregivers. Availability varies by site.
How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
How to Start in Utah
- Call 1-877-424-4640 (Utah Aging and Adult Services) to reach your regional AAA. They connect you with NFCSP respite grants, caregiver counseling, and local resources at no cost.
- If your loved one is enrolled in a Utah HCBS waiver, talk to the Medicaid case manager about adding respite to the authorized care plan. The Aging Waiver and Physical Disabilities Waiver both cover in-home respite.
- If your loved one is a working adult with a disability and not on a waiver, ask Utah Medicaid about EPAS. Remember that a spouse cannot be the paid EPAS worker; a non-spouse adult family member or trusted friend can.
- Dial 211 for local referrals to adult day programs and emergency respite resources statewide.
- If your loved one is a veteran, call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 and ask about respite options and Veteran-Directed Care in Utah.
Not sure which Utah respite program fits your family? 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 Aging Waiver and Physical Disabilities Waiver both authorize in-home respite as part of the member's care plan. EPAS also includes respite hours for working adults with disabilities who are self-directing their care. Talk to your DHHS case manager to add respite to the authorized plan.
Not through EPAS. The personal assistant may not be the participant's legal guardian, and a spouse is considered a legal guardian under EPAS policy. HCBS waiver programs have their own worker rules; confirm with your DHHS case manager whether a spouse can be the paid attendant under the Physical Disabilities Waiver.
Yes. Utah's 12 Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test and no Medicaid enrollment required. Call Utah Aging and Adult Services at 1-877-424-4640 or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
EPAS is for working adults with disabilities not on a 1915(c) waiver; they self-direct their care and cannot use a spouse as the paid worker. HCBS waivers authorize respite through a care plan with a case manager. The two cannot be used simultaneously; waiver enrollees use the waiver for respite.
Learn More
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Utah
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Utah
- The Cost of Senior Care in Utah
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Utah 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.