Vermont family caregivers can access funded respite through the Choices for Care Medicaid waiver and free NFCSP grants. VA programs are available through the White River Junction VA Medical Center and 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 Vermont 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 1-800-642-5119 (VT DAIL helpline) or dial 211.
Funded Respite Options in Vermont
1. Choices for Care Waiver Agency with Choice Model
What it is: Vermont's Choices for Care Medicaid waiver, administered by the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL), serves older adults and adults with physical disabilities who need nursing-home-level care but choose to live at home or in a community setting. Choices for Care includes a self-directed Agency with Choice model that may allow the care recipient to hire their own personal care attendant, potentially including a family member, for in-home care and respite.
Can a family member be the paid caregiver? Under the Choices for Care Agency with Choice model, family members may be eligible to be hired as paid personal care attendants. Whether a spouse specifically may serve as the paid attendant should be confirmed with DAIL at 1-800-642-5119, as the rules depend on the individual's authorized care plan.
How to access: Contact DAIL at 1-800-642-5119 to ask about Choices for Care eligibility and the Agency with Choice self-directed option.
Best for: Vermont families where the care recipient meets the functional eligibility requirement and wants a consumer-directed model for in-home care.
2. NFCSP Grants Through Vermont'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 Vermont DAIL to 12 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 VT DAIL statewide helpline at 1-800-642-5119, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Best for: Any Vermont family caregiver regardless of income. Vermont has 12 AAAs covering every county, making local access relatively strong for a small state.
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 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 Vermont 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; Vermont Medicaid may cover adult day as part of a Choices for Care plan; long-term care insurance often covers it; private-pay rates vary.
Finding programs: Call 1-800-642-5119 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 White River Junction VA Medical Center serves veterans throughout Vermont, with community-based outpatient clinics in Bennington, Burlington, Colchester, Newport, and Rutland.
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 Vermont
- Call 1-800-642-5119 (VT DAIL helpline) 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 DAIL at 1-800-642-5119 if your loved one may qualify for Choices for Care. Ask about the Agency with Choice model and whether a family member can serve as the paid attendant.
- 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 White River Junction VA Medical Center.
Not sure which Vermont 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. Vermont's Choices for Care Medicaid waiver serves older adults and adults with physical disabilities who need nursing-home-level care. The Agency with Choice self-directed component may allow family members to be hired as paid personal care attendants. Contact DAIL at 1-800-642-5119 to ask about eligibility.
Under the Choices for Care Agency with Choice model, family members may be eligible as paid personal care attendants. Whether a spouse specifically may serve in this role should be confirmed with DAIL at 1-800-642-5119, as eligibility depends on the individual's authorized care plan.
Yes. Vermont's 12 Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test. Call the VT DAIL statewide helpline at 1-800-642-5119 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 White River Junction VA Medical Center or affiliated community clinics statewide. 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 Vermont
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Vermont
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Vermont 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.