·Federal program
Lifespan Respite Care Program
Federal grant program funding state-level respite care coordination and services for family caregivers of any age caring for individuals of any age with special needs. Administered by ACL through grants to state agencies.
What it offers
Block grants to states for: (1) respite care services coordination and delivery, (2) training for respite workers and family caregivers, (3) development of respite provider registries, (4) assistance with planned and emergency respite. FY2025 appropriation: $10 million. Since 2009, ACL has awarded competitive grants to eligible agencies in 39 states and DC. Grantee activities include voucher programs, respite provider training, database development, community engagement, and outreach. No direct payments to caregivers are created at the federal level; respite is delivered through state grantee networks and local providers, so availability varies significantly by state funding, program maturity, and provider capacity. A separate USAspending inventory records FY2025-search-window Assistance Listing 93.072 award rows across 27 states.
Questions that decide eligibility
GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:
- 01
Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?
- 02
Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?
- 03
Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name.
Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
- 04
What documents do you need from us to start an application?
- 05
Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?