Caregiver support
Do you take care of an older or disabled family member? Do you take care of a grandchild? Do you need a break from caregiving? Do you have health or money worries because of your caregiving duties?
If you are 60 or older and you care for someone
Call 1-800-252-9240. Your local area agency on aging (AAA) may be able to help you:
- Find services in your area
- Help arrange for those services
- Provide short-term relief
If you care for someone 60 or older
Call 1-800-252-9240. Your local AAA may be able to help you:
- Find services in your area
- Help arrange for those services
- Provide short-term relief
If you care for a child
The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides support for the growing number of older people who care for children. This program can help grandparents or other relatives (age 55 and older) who are caring for a child age 18 or younger. Call 1-800-252-9240 to learn more.
If you get Medicaid
Some Medicaid programs pay for short-term relief for caregivers. This is called respite. Call your local DADS office to learn more. Click here to find your local DADS office.
If you have an intellectual or developmental disability
Your local authority may pay for short-term relief for caregivers. This is called respite. You can call them for more information. Click here to find your local authority.
Take Time Texas
Even the most amazing caregivers need time and assistance! Take Time Texas challenges caregivers to take some time for themselves and reach for information, support and assistance. To encourage caregivers to take that time, the Texas Respite Coordination Center was created to offer caregivers and respite care providers services, resources and educational materials.
Where to call to receive DADS services and supports
To learn more
Fact sheets about DADS programs that offer caregiver support services:
- Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)
- Community Based Alternatives (CBA)
- Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)
- Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD)
- Home and Community–based Services (HCS)
- Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP)
- Local Authorities (LA)
- Texas Home Living (TxHmL)
Other resources
- 211 Texas can provide information about local, state or federal services.
- Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) — The ADRCs provide information about and help with state and federal benefits. They can also help you learn about local programs and services. Anyone — individuals, family members, friends or professionals — can receive information tailored to their needs.
- Aging Texas Well provides information to help family members and other voluntary caregivers.
- Consumer Directed Services — If you want more control over who works for you in your own home, you can choose either Consumer Directed Services (CDS) or the Service Responsibility Option (SRO). You can only use CDS or SRO in some DADS programs.
- Explanation of IDD Services and Supports (PDF) includes brief descriptions of DADS intellectual and developmental disability services and supports.
- Know Your Options (PDF) discusses the DADS Money Follows the Person (MFP) initiative that allows certain Texans who are eligible for Medicaid and living in nursing facilities to choose an appropriate community setting and receive community services and supports.
- Making Informed Choices: Community Living Options Information Process (PDF) — Local authority staff can use this document to help explain options in the community to residents of state supported living centers.
- Making Informed Choices: Community Living Options Information Process for Legally Authorized Representatives of Residents in State Supported Living Centers (PDF) — Local authority staff can use to help explain options in the community to legally authorized representatives of state supported living center residents.
- Medicaid Estate Recovery Program — The state may file a claim against the estate of a deceased Medicaid recipient, age 55 and older, who applied for certain long-term care services on or after March 1, 2005. Claims include the cost of services, hospital care and prescription drugs supported by Medicaid under certain programs.
- Yourtexasbenefits.com — This website offers you easy and secure online access to Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) benefits including Medicaid, SNAP food benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and nursing home care and other services for people who are elderly or have disabilities.
Updated: November 20, 2012