The National Family Caregiver Program is an Older Americans Act program that helps to support family caregivers. It has been determined that in excess of $257 million dollars worth of care is provided by family and unpaid caregivers. The federal government has realized that if these family caregivers were unable to continue with their care, the health care system of this country could not absorb all of that responsibility. To enable caregivers to continue doing what they are doing, there is the availability of supportive services to assist them. These services may include:

Respite: This is essentially relief for the caregiver. A paid attendant can come in for typically 4 hours per week. This allows the caregiver the opportunity to leave the home for appointments, for social events, or hopefully to just do something they enjoy. While setting appointments to have things done is important, it is equally important for the caregiver to have sufficient opportunities to recharge batteries and maintain their own physical and mental health so they can continue caring for their loved one.

Flex: If there is a defined need which doesn't fit into one of the service codes, we can use Flex funding to meet those needs. Examples of what might be considered are incontinence products, durable medical equipment, lift chairs, food supplements, or other items or services that helps to meet caregiving needs.

We also have information on various resources, services, or other benefits that caregivers may be eligible to receive. Please contact us at 1 800 633-5621 (800 # only valid within the state of Kansas) or locally at 785 242-7200,  for additional information.