Family Caregiver Support Program
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National Family Caregivers Month
Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers, including spouses, adult children, relatives, and friends, who provide invaluable support to older adults and people with disabilities.
More than 53 million family caregivers provide unpaid care across the country. AARP estimates that in 2021, family caregivers provided 36 billion hours of care valued at $600 billion, up from 34 billion hours of care valued at $470 billion just two years before. At the same time, at least 2.7 million grandparents—and an unknown number of other relative caregivers—carry the primary responsibility for caring for grandchildren whose parents are unable to do so.
"We recognize the need for a robust, coordinated approach to supporting family and kinship caregivers," said Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Carmel Roques. "As the youngest Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2029 and lifespans continue to climb into the 80s and beyond, the demand for at-home care is going to soar."
Family Caregiver Support Program Overview
The Maryland Family Caregiver Support Program is administered by the Maryland Department of Aging and is part of a national network of caregiver programs funded by the federal Administration for Community Living. The program helps family and informal caregivers care for their loved ones at home for as long as possible. Family caregivers are the major source of unpaid help for older and disabled adults living in communities across the state. These caregivers typically include spouses, adult children, relatives, and friends.
Maryland's Family Caregiver Support Program works in conjunction with a host of State and community-based services to create a coordinated array of supports for individuals who need them. Studies show that these services can reduce caregiver depression, anxiety, and stress and enable them to provide care longer, thereby avoiding or delaying the need for costly institutional care.
The program offers five types of Caregiver Services:
Information and Assistance
A service that provides the individuals with
current information on opportunities and services available to the individuals
within their communities.
Information Services
- A public and media activity that conveys information to caregivers about available services, including in-person interactive presentations, booth/exhibits, or radio, TV, or Web site events.
- This service is not tailored to the needs of the individual.
Counseling
- A service designed to support caregivers and assist them in decision- making and problem solving.
- Provided by a qualified counselor
- Includes counseling to individuals or group sessions
Case Management
- A service provided to a caregiver, at the direction of the caregiver by an individual who is trained or experienced in the case management skills that are required to deliver services and coordination.
Training
- A service that provides caregivers with instruction to improve knowledge and performance of specific skills relating to caregiving.
- Skills may include activities related to health, nutrition, and financial management; providing personal care; and communicating with health care providers and other family members.
Support Groups
- A service led by an individual who meets state/territory policy requirements to facilitate caregiver discussion of their experiences and concerns and develop a mutual support system.
- For the purposes of Title III-E funding, caregiver support groups would not include “caregiver education groups,” “peer-to-peer support groups,” or other groups primarily which teach skills or meet without a qualified facilitator.
Respite
A
service which offers temporary, substitute supports or living arrangements for
care recipients. It provides a brief period of relief or rest for caregivers.
Supplemental services on a limited basis
- Goods and services provided on a limited basis to complement the care provided by caregivers.
- A category of service that describes the state-defined service, which does not fall into the previously defined service categories.
Service Domains
- Assistive Technology/Durable Equipment/Emergency Response
- Consumable Supplies
- Home Modifications/Repairs
- Legal and/or Financial Consultation
- Homemaker/Chore/Personal Care
- Transportation
- Nutrition Services
- Other
The family caregivers who are eligible to receive services include:
- Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older providing care to individuals 60 years of age and older;
- Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older providing care to individuals of any age with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders;
- Grandparents and other relatives (not parents) 55 years of age and older providing care to children under the age of 18; and
- Grandparents and other relatives (not parents) 55 years of age and older providing care to adults age 18-59 with disabilities.
Caregivers of Older Adults and Older Relative Caregivers Defined:
- An adult family member, or another individual
- Informal
provider of in-home and community care
- Older
individual
- Individual
with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder
- Caregiver who is age 55 or older
- Provides
support to a child under 18 and is not a parent
- Provides
support to an adult ages 18-59 with disability (may be a parent)
Local Events Honoring National Family Caregivers Month
- Anne Arundel County is hosting their Annual Caring for Caregiver Appreciation Dinner on November 2, 2023. Click here for more information.
- Allegany County invites you visit their National Family Caregivers display table throughout the month in the lobby of the Willowbrook Office Complex at 12501 Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. Click here for a copy of the Allegany County November newsletter.
- Baltimore City is hosting their Annual Family Caregivers Award Ceremony & Recognition Luncheon on November 17, 2023 at the Baltimore War Memorial Auditorium as well as three Lunch & Learn: Care for the Caregiver sessions from 11am-noon on Nov. 9 at the Harford Senior Center, Nov. 21 at the Sandtown Senior Center, and Nov. 30 at the Hatton Senior Center. Click here for more information.
- Baltimore County is hosting their Annual Caregiver Conference on November 17, 2023 from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Ateaze Senior Center. Click here for more information.
- Calvert County will issue a proclamation for National Caregiver’s Month on November 4, 2023 at its Board of County Commissioners meeting on November 7, 2023 at 10 a.m. at 175 Main Street in Prince Frederick. Caregivers from local support groups are invited to attend. Click here for more information. On November 13, 2023, Calvert County will host a Dementia Live educational event in conjunction with Hospice of the Chesapeake, providing a unique inside-out understanding of dementia as well as the aging process. Email lisa.caudle@calvertcountymd.gov for more information.
- Carroll County is hosting a Caregiver Conference on November 4, 2023 at the Westminster Senior and Community Center. Click here for more information.
- Frederick County is hosting a one-man show, "Dementia Man: An Existential Journey," at Frederick Community College on November 3, 2023, followed by a Q&A session. Click here for more information. Frederick County is also offering a Dementia Live training on November 15, 2023. Click here for more information.
- Howard County is hosting their "It's All About You" Caregiver Conference on November 4, 2023 at the Ellicott City 50+ Center. Click here for more information.
- Prince George’s County is hosting their virtual Family Caregiver Conference on November 29, 2023. Click here for more information.
- Queen Anne’s County is hosting their Annual Caregivers Conference, "Embracing the Caregiver," on November 17, 2023. Click here for more information.
- St. Mary's County will present a proclamation for National Family Caregiver’s Month at its Commission meeting and public hearing during a live, televised event on November 7, 2023.
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