Caregiver Resources in New York State (and beyond)

Caring for others can get intense — in some good ways and other not-so-good ways. There are all kinds of resources across New York State and beyond that may be able to help.

FOR DRIVERS OF CAREGIVER INTENSITY

Drivers are the things that make Caregiver Intensity go up. Explore the resources below for your specific drivers making your caregiving feel more intense.

    • NY Connects: Find senior services and resource information in your area. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "respite,” "caregiver coaching," or "caregiver support" for services; enter your town/county; and then click search services and supports to get a list of respite programs, caregiver coaching, and other support programs for caregivers in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • Your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA): Your local AAA can connect you to respite programs, caregiver coaching, and other support programs for caregivers like Meals-On-Wheels, homemakers, and more to help free up some of your time. Select your county from the list and call to connect.

    • NYSCRC Caregiver Respite Voucher: The NYSCRC Caregiver Respite Voucher Program gives eligible caregivers up to $600 to spend on in-home respite care, including kinship caregivers for children. Caregivers can use a professional caregiver or pay someone already in their trusted circle like a family member, neighbor, or friend.

    • Alzheimer’s Association - Respite Resources: Offers in-person and virtual support groups for caregivers and individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia, including respite services. Enter your zip code or state to find the chapter closest to you.

    • ARCH National Respite Network: Find respite care providers, information and education on the different types of respite care, and help getting costs covered.

    • NY Connects: Find senior services and resource information in your area. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "budgeting," "money," or "financial assistance" for services; enter your town/county, and then click search services and supports to get a list services and programs in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • NY 211: 211 connects you to the help you need in your community. Includes help with food, housing, paying bills, and child care as well as support in a family crisis or community disaster. Available by phone or online chat. Call 211 to speak to someone now, or search by city/county for online resources and more contact information.

    • Dollar For: Helps you apply for financial assistance from your hospital to cover medical bills and get rid of medical debt. Application applies.

    • RXOutreach.org: This mail-order pharmacy provides significant discounts on 30- and 90-day refills, even if you have insurance. Use the "Find Your Medication" search. Application applies.

    • NeedyMeds.org: Connects people to programs that will help them afford their medications and other healthcare costs. Find programs for prescription meds, medical clinics, transportation, even retreats, camps, and recreational programs. Applications apply.

    • RXAssist.org: Finds patient assistance programs (application applies) or retail discount programs that can reduce prescription costs.

    • NYSCRC Caregiver Respite Voucher: The NYSCRC Caregiver Respite Voucher Program gives eligible caregivers up to $600 to spend on in-home respite care, including kinship caregivers for children. Caregivers can use a professional caregiver or pay someone already in their trusted circle like a family member, neighbor, or friend.

    • myBenefits: An online tool that allows you to input some basic info about your loved one to see which state and federal programs and supports they are eligible for including assistance with health insurance, utility and grocery bills, and more.

    • Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP): Available to Medicare (or soon-to-be) eligible, HIICAP provides free info, counseling, and assistance and help navigating Medicare, private health insurance, and related health coverage plans. HIICAP also has helpful info on programs for lower-income residents for things like prescription discounts, Medicare savings, and more. Call 800-701-0501 to connect to a benefits counselor.

    • NY Connects: Find senior services and resource information in your area. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "budgeting," "money," or "financial assistance" for services; enter your town/county; and then click "search services and supports" to get a list services and programs in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • NY State Kinship Navigator: For grandparents caring for grandchildren, the NY State Kinship Navigator provides information on financial assistance, legal information, and referrals and helps with other issues caregivers face when raising children. Click the link or call 877-454-6463

    • NY 211: 211 connects you to the help you need in your community. Includes help with food, housing, paying bills, and child care as well as support in a family crisis or community disaster. Available by phone or online chat. Call 211 to speak to someone now, or search by city/county for online resources and more contact information.

    • National Council on Aging - Benefits Checkup: Connects older adults and people with disabilities with benefits and programs that can help pay for health care, medicine, food, utilities, and more.

    • USA.gov Benefits Finder: Easy-to-use, single source of government benefits to help you understand which programs you may be eligible for and how to apply. Over 1,200 benefits by category, this is the official benefits website of the U.S. government.

    • RXOutreach.org: This mail-order pharmacy provides significant discounts on 30- and 90-day refills, even if you have insurance. Use the "Find Your Medication" search. Application applies.

    • NeedyMeds.org: Connects people to programs that will help them afford their medications and other healthcare costs. Find programs for prescription meds, medical clinics, transportation, even retreats, camps, and recreational programs. Applications apply.

    • RXAssist.org: Finds patient assistance programs (application applies) or retail discount programs that can reduce prescription costs.

    • NYSCRC Family Mediation and Conflict Counseling: Family mediation is a voluntary, confidential process that encourages family participation in the care of an elder loved one. It can be used for planning and disput resolution with a neutral non-family member facilitating. Conflict coaching, like mediation, is both voluntary and confidential and is an opportunity for an individual who feels “stuck” in a situation to consider different perspectives and different ways of responding. It may be a primary caregiver who feels overburdened with care responsibilities and feels no one is helping, despite asking repeatedly for help.

    • Law Help NY: Law Help New York offers free self-help tools for dealing with issues like divorce and family problems, wills and estate planning, public assistance like food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid, social security, and more. You can even look up agencies in your area that may provide free legal assistance.

    • NY Connects - Caregiver Support Groups & Coaching : Connect with other caregivers and learn about additional resources to help. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "caregiver" for services, enter your town/county, and then click search services and supports to get a caregiver-support services and programs in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • Caregiver Action Network - Caring with Siblings Article: Provides helpful strategies for managing the family dynamics related to sharing caring responsibilities.

    • NY Connects - Caregiver Support Groups & Coaching: Connect with other caregivers and learn about additional resources to help you get the support you need. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "caregiver" for Services, enter your town/county, and then CLICK "SEARCH SERVICES and SUPPORTS" to get a caregiver support services and programs in your area — or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups: Offers in-person and virtual support groups for caregivers and individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia, including respite services. Enter your zip code or state to find the chapter closest to you.

    • VA Caregiver Support Program: Through the NY Department of Veterans' Services, caregivers can apply for the Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), which pays a loved one who is caring for a Veteran receiving care through the VA, and the Program for General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS), which is for anyone caring for a Veteran and provides education, resources, and access to support groups. The VA Medical Center Caregiver Support Coordinator can assist you with enrolling. For help, contact your local Caregiver Support Coordinator using the VA Caregiver Support Program tool or call the VA Caregiver support line at 1 (855) 260-3274.

    • NY State Office for People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD): For caregivers of adult disabled children, OPWDD provides supports and services that can help your family to support your child to live in your family home or community, as well as respite for you. Connect with a Care Manager to access services.

    • Parent-to-Parent of NYS: For caregivers of children with disabilities, Parent-to-Parent of NYS helps you take a break while building connections with other caregivers like you through a match process. Multilingual and multicultural. Application required.

    • NY Caregiver Portal (Trualta): Provides quick, expert answers to the everyday challenges as a caregiver including things like protecting your mental health, preventing falls, managing challenging behaviors during cognitive decline, and more. To learn more and access Trualta, just click on the link.

    • NY Connects - Caregiver support groups & coaching: Connect with other caregivers and learn about additional resources to help manage all the feelings caregiving brings. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "caregiver" for services, enter your town/county, and then click search services and supports to get a caregiver support services and programs in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • NY State 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or those you love.

    • New York State Office of Mental Health: Offers a directory for finding the type of mental health services you need in your area.

    • Veterans Crisis Line: Provides 24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones.

    • Crisis Text Line: The Crisis Text Line is a 24/7 free, confidential hotline to call in order to assess immediate needs.

    • NAMI HelpLine: A free, nationwide peer-support service providing mental health information, resources, and support.

    • NY Caregiver Portal (Trualta): Provides quick, expert answers to the everyday challenges as a caregiver including things like preventing falls, managing challenging behaviors during cognitive decline, and more. To learn more and access Trualta, just click on the link.

    • NYSCRC Powerful Tools for Caregivers: A six week class series that teaches caregivers how reduce stress, improve confidence in the care you provide, manage time, solve problems, locate support and more.

    • NY Connects - Caregiver Support Groups & Coaching: Connect with other caregivers and learn about additional resources to help you feel confident in all you do. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "caregiver" for services, enter your town/county, and then click search services and supports to get a caregiver support services and programs in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • Alzheimer’s Association - Online Safety Information for Caregivers: Caregiving doesn't come with a "how to" manual. Safety is important for everyone. Learn how to improve safety to prevent injuries and help the person with Alzheimer’s feel more relaxed, less overwhelmed, and maintain their independence longer. And boost your confidence, too.

    • F.A.M.S. Program for Caregivers: Offered through Wayne State University, provides free online training classes on things like care managements, fall prevention and safety, stress management, and more.

    • NY Caregiver Portal (Trualta): Provides quick, expert answers to the everyday challenges as a caregiver including things like preventing falls, managing challenging behaviors during cognitive decline, and more. To learn more and access Trualta, just click on the link.

    • NY Connects - Caregiver Support Groups & Coaching: Connect with other caregivers and learn about additional resources to help you feel prepared for what may come. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "caregiver" for services, enter your town/county, and then click search services and supports to get a caregiver support services and programs in your area - or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • Alzheimer’s Association - Stages and Behaviors: provides information and resources to prepare you as a caregiver for each stage of Alzheimer's and dementia.

    • Online Caregiver Support Groups: A helpful way to learn and connect with caregivers. For those in rural communities, these can be especially useful. Almost all of these online support groups are on Facebook, so you’ll need to know how to join an online Facebook group to participate.

    • NY Caregiver Portal (Trualta): Provides quick, expert answers to the everyday challenges as a caregiver including things like managing challenging behaviors and support for when you’re not feeling the most purposes in your caregiving. To learn more and access Trualta, just click on the link.

    • NY Connects - Caregiver Support Groups & Coaching: Connect with other caregivers and learn about additional resources to help you with all the feelings caregiving brings. Using the "Know What You Need" button, enter "caregiver" for services, enter your town/county, and then click search services and supports to get a caregiver support services and programs in your area or call (800) 342-9871 to speak with a counselor.

    • Daily Caring - 5 Ways to Reduce and Manage Caregiver Resentment: This article provides strategies to deal with resentment as a caregiver.

    • Family Caregiver Alliance - Taking Care of You: An in-depth set of resources and information on how to take care of yourself while caring for others, including how to manage the hard feelings that can come with being a caregiver.

MORE RESOURCES WHERE YOU NEED THEM

Whether you’re caring close to home or from a distance, use the resources below to find help in the place where you need it most.

ARCHANGELS STATE-BY-STATE

ARCHANGELS provides links to free resources based on what’s available in your area and what’s most driving your Caregiver Intensity. There are also resources for specific caregiving situations, like if you’re a Veteran caregiver or someone caring for Veteran. You can also learn how to include your caregiving experience on your resume. Cick below to connect.

UNITED WAY 211

Talk to an expert on the resources in your area who will guide you through finding support. Calls made to 2-1-1 are confidential and can be anonymous. This is a 24/7 service that you can contact to aid you in meeting basic needs — things like help finding health care, housing, food, addiction, and more.

FINDHELP.ORG

Findhelp.org is a website that can connect you to resources in your area for financial assistance, food delivery, housing assistance, mental health, and more. Resources are free or reduced cost. Once you put in your zip code, thousands of resources are provided for you, and Findhelp even walks you through the next steps required for each resource.

ELDERCARE LOCATOR

Eldercare Locator focuses on connecting older adult and their families to support. They provide you with the helpful agencies in your zip code and specific resources for caregivers, including this resource for long-distance care. They also offer information on elderly rights, and can answer questions and help navigate Medicare/Medicaid.