Family Caregiver Support & Respite

Mississippi Family Caregiver Support Program

The Mississippi Family Caregiver Support Program works in partnership with community-based Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and local community service providers to provide five basic services for family caregivers, including:

• Information to caregivers about available services.
• Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services.
• Individual counseling, the organization of support groups, caregiver training to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles.
• Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from caregiving responsibilities.
• Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.

If you are providing care for a family member age 60 or older or if you are age 60 or older and caring for a child in your family who is under age 18, the Mississippi Family Caregiver Support Program is for you.

To get connected to the program, contact the Mississippi Access to Care (MAC) Center at 844-822-4622.

Respite Vouchers

Caring for an older adult is a major responsibility. If you are a family member caring for an older adult or person of any age with a significant disability or chronic illness who requires assistance with meeting their daily needs, a respite voucher can offer a temporary break.

Who is eligible for a respite care voucher?

Respite care is available for anyone who is providing unpaid care for a dependent person of any age with a significant disability or chronic illness requiring 24/7 care.

How does the respite voucher program work?

Vouchers can be used to pay an in-home care agency, an Adult Day Center, or a private individual to provide care for your older adult family member for a short period of time so that you can step away and take care of yourself or other responsibilities.

Respite vouchers are provided in the amount of $500.00 to approved primary caregivers.

Vouchers can only be used to pay for breaks (respite) for caregivers. They may NOT be used to:

• Pay the family caregiver directly for the care they are providing.
• Pay for care that occurred before the voucher was issued.
• Pay medical bills or purchase medical supplies.
• Offset the cost of paid care already in place.