Caregiving for a dementia patient can lead to sleepless nights, exhausting conversations, and a host of concerns surrounding wandering, falls, and household safety. However, you may still be able to take some time for yourself through respite care funded by a dementia home care grant, like the one offered by the non-profit HFC. This grant can help pay for a part-time, in-home caregiver, though, it’s important to note that while the grant pays for a respite caregiver, there is no cash value. You can use these hours to work, go to the store, or tend to your own health care needs. Taking time to care for yourself benefits not only you, but your loved one as well.
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
To help long-term caregivers with some respite care, the non-profit HFC has partnered with Home Instead to offer the HFC In-Home Care Grant Program.
There are two grant options under the HFC In-Home Care Grant Program:
While these grants are based on a one-time award, family caregivers can typically reapply for another grant if needed. Limits may apply for those receiving more than one grant. Funding may be limited, especially for the Extended Relief Respite Grant, which can affect the availability of grants.[01]
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
To apply for the grant, you’ll need to review the requirements to confirm your eligibility and complete a comprehensive application.
Caregiver applicants must typically meet the following criteria:
Unfortunately, caregivers living in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are not eligible for the grant program as of this article’s latest update. [01]
As a caregiver, you can apply online through the HFC In-Home Care Grant Application portal. It’s important to provide a complete description of your caregiving situation when applying for these grants. This will look different for each caregiver as every caregiving situation is unique.
Note: Caregivers can only submit one application per quarter.
Caregivers often face their own struggles as a result of caregiving. These challenges may include:
In fact, caregivers have a higher rate of depression and lower rates of social activity and life satisfaction compared to non-caregivers of a similar age, according to a study in Psychology and Aging. [02]
However, respite care provided by grants like these can help caregivers retain their resiliency in order to care for a loved one longer, according to recent research conducted by the University of Oklahoma.[03] They also facilitate time for essential self-care for caregivers.
The answer of how to maximize caregiver benefits from the HFC In-Home Care Grant Program will be different for each caregiver. Grant recipients can use these respite hours provided by the dementia care grants to do whatever is most helpful for them.
Caregivers may benefit from doing the following while using respite care:
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Unfortunately, not everyone who applies for a grant receives one. And, while these grants are useful, they don’t provide a permanent solution to your loved one’s memory care needs.
If you find that you need more support outside of what you can provide on your own, you may wish to consider in-home care options or even a memory care community for your loved one.
For personalized help, reach out to one of the Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom. They can provide you with advice customized to your loved one’s unique memory care needs – all at no cost to you.
Home Instead. (2023). Apply for a dementia care home care grant.
Haley, W. E., Levine, E. G., Brown, S. L., & Bartolucci, A. A. (1987). Stress, appraisal, coping, and social support as predictors of adaptational outcome among dementia caregivers. Psychology and Aging.
Roberts, E., & Struckmeyer, K. M. (2018, February 9). The impact of respite programming on caregiver resilience in dementia care: A qualitative examination of family caregiver perspectives. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing.
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