Washington Family Caregiver Support Program

What it offers

Washington's Family Caregiver Support Program is offered through Area Agencies on Aging and supports unpaid caregivers of adults age 18 and older. Staff can help caregivers find local resources and services, caregiver support groups and counseling, training on caregiving topics, caregiver supplies or equipment, respite care, and practical one-on-one consultation. Washington uses the TCARE Personal Caregiver Survey and caregiver specialist process to tailor support. Washington law directs the department to contract with Area Agencies on Aging or other appropriate agencies to administer family caregiver long-term care information and support services, arrange respite care information, training, and other supports, and use an evidence-based caregiver assessment and referral tool.

Questions that decide eligibility

GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:

1. 01

   Does the person receiving care live in Washington?

   Residency is usually the first thing a program checks.

2. 02

   Does your relationship to the person — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, other relative, or non relative — count for this program?

3. 03

   Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?

4. 04

   Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?

5. 05

   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.

6. 06

   What documents do you need from us to start an application?

7. 07

   Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?