Family, Children & Caregiving · Surprise rank #366
Caring for an Older Adult? Get Free Short-Term Care So You Can Take a Break
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) offers unpaid caregivers free counseling, training, and limited respite care through local Area Agencies on Aging.
Who
People caring for an older adult, a person with dementia, or certain older relative caregivers.
Where: Statewide through Area Agencies on Aging in NYC, Nassau and Suffolk.
What to do
Start here: Call NY Connects or the county Office for the Aging and ask for an NFCSP caregiver assessment.
Eligibility: Caregiver and care recipient must fit one of the statutory categories; local service availability varies.
What you get
County aging agencies can provide unpaid family caregivers with free counseling, training, respite and supplemental services.
Benefit: Caregiver assessment, counseling, support groups, training, limited respite or supplies depending on the county.
Possible value: Usually hundreds to several thousand dollars in practical support, not cash.
Good to know
Important: Not a guaranteed cash stipend; respite hours and waitlists depend on local funding.
Availability: Rolling, subject to local capacity.
Why people miss it: Services are fragmented under county aging offices and are rarely described as a federal entitlement-style program.
Sources reviewed: Aug 2, 2026