The federal government administers several grant programs to inform and counsel senior caregivers. Funds are disbursed, not to individuals, but through state and local agencies and other organizations. A community foundation dispenses grants to eligible organizations as well. Categories range from programs that give temporary respite for caregivers who need a break from their responsibilities to those that teach caregivers cope with seniors who need to stop driving due to dementia.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
The National Family Caregiver Support Program gives grants to 640 local agencies on aging nationwide to offer families who are taking care of the elderly training counseling, information, referrals and respite care.
Lifespan Respite Care Program
This program is designed to provide support to caregivers of disabled family members of any age covers short-term placement of senior citizens in suitable facilities or home care so that family members can engage in family activities or take a break from their care-giving duties.
Home and Community Based Services Program
This Health and Human Services-administered program funnels funding through local agencies on aging for transportation services, participation in adult day programs and home care.
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
This agency announced in February 2010 that it would disburse funding to organizations to educate caregivers' awareness of the dangers elderly people with dementia pose as drivers, to develop and promote tools they can use to address the issue. Nonprofit organizations, private higher education institutions and organizations that can do national outreach and are not connected to for-profit entities are eligible to apply.
Weinberg Administration
This nonprofit foundation provides grants to support direct service organizations located, for the most part, in Maryland, Hawaii, northeastern Pennsylvania, New York and Israel and the former Soviet Union. Grants are made to support residential care, community-based facilities, general operating programs, housing construction and informal care-giving support, the Weinberg Foundation Web site explains
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