Respite Program

Respite Program is sponsored by New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA). NYSOFA directly funds six community-based respite programs across New York State. Respite services provide infrequent and temporary substitute care or supervision for adults who are frail or have disabilities, allowing caregivers temporary relief.

Respite Care in New York: A 2026 Guide for Family Caregivers | Brevy Care Caregiving Respite Care in New York: A 2026 Guide for Family Caregivers There is no single New York respite program: respite care in New York is a patchwork of nine-plus funding streams, and the one number that opens the most doors is NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871.

33 min read · Published May 5, 2026 · Last verified July 10, 2026 There is no single New York respite program: respite care in New York is a patchwork of nine-plus funding streams, and the one number that opens the most doors is NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871.

Most important fact for 2026 readers: Because there is no single program, you navigate respite in New York through a layered patchwork of nine-plus distinct funding streams , NFCSP / Title III-E, EISEP, the NYSOFA State Respite Program, the NY State Caregiving and Respite Coalition's Lifespan Respite vouchers, NHTD waiver respite, TBI waiver respite, OPWDD HCBS respite (planned, crisis, site-based, in-home, and Self-Direction "Family Reimbursed Respite"), the Children's 1915(c) waiver respite, MLTC supplemental benefits, the BH HCBS / Crisis Residence pathway, the Medicare hospice respite benefit, and the VA's PCAFC and PGCSS respite programs.

Each has its own eligibility door, its own definition of "respite," and its own dollar cap. Eligibility for one stream does not mean eligibility for another. The single best place to start is NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871.

1 Administration for Community Living. (n. d.)

Lifespan Respite Care Program . acl. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl.

gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program If you are exhausted, or feeling guilty for even wanting a break, know that needing time off does not make you a worse caregiver. It makes you a sustainable one. Nearly every program below exists precisely because the state and federal governments recognize that unpaid caregivers burn out without relief, and stacking two or three of these streams is normal, not greedy.

This guide is for unpaid family caregivers in New York looking for time off, a few hours a week, an afternoon, a weekend, or a planned vacation. It walks through every meaningful 2026 funding source, the eligibility rules, the dollar amounts, and the most common myths.

It does not duplicate our How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in New York flagship, that guide covers compensation for the caregiver's own labor ( CDPAP , PCS, NHTD/TBI staffing roles, VA stipends, etc.). This guide is about getting someone else to provide care so you can rest. Respite Care in New York: 10 Things to Know for 2026 NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 is the front door.

Call once, get routed to your county's coordinator, and have every program (NFCSP, EISEP, OPWDD Front Door, NHTD/TBI, MLTC) screened in a single intake. Online directory at https://www. nyconnects.

ny. gov/ . NFCSP / Title III-E is the most-used non-Medicaid respite stream for caregivers of seniors 60+ or any-age adult with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).

Authorized under 42 USC §§ 3030s, 3030s-1, 3030s-2 . NYSOFA channels NFCSP through area-agency-on-aging offices across all 62 counties. NYSOFA funds Caregiver Resource Centers in a subset of New York's 62 counties.

Caregivers in counties without a CRC can still access NFCSP services through their county AAA caregiver coordinator, but the level of caregiver-specific staffing varies. Check the NYSOFA page for the current county list. A separate NYSOFA State Respite Program (State General Fund, not Title III-E) covers additional counties through community organization grantees.

See NYSOFA's respite program page for the current grantee list and counties served. The NY State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC) Lifespan Respite voucher provides a per-caregiver award for first-time approved applicants. Caregivers can use it to pay an agency, an individual contractor, or a family member or friend they hire (one of the few state-recognized pathways that can pay friends/family).

Run by Lifespan of Greater Rochester, funded by the Lifespan Respite Care Act and the Field Hall Foundation. Contact NYSCRC for current award amounts and availability. EISEP (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program) is fully state-funded, county-AAA-administered, and serves seniors 60+ who need help but earn too much for Medicaid .

EISEP includes a respite component delivered through social adult day or in-home aides on a sliding-scale cost-share. Medicaid waiver respite is provider-delivered, not cash-to-family, with one major exception.

OPWDD Self-Direction allows participants to budget Family Reimbursed Respite (State-funded, subject to an annual cap set in the participant's budget), where the family pays upfront for goods and services and is reimbursed through the Fiscal Intermediary. NHTD, TBI, Children's, and standard OPWDD respite are paid to certified provider agencies, not to the unpaid family caregiver.

NHTD's earlier enrollment freeze has eased: New York raised the participant cap to 14,079 (accepted May 15, 2026) and the Regional Resource Development Centers now process referrals first-come, first-served as census space opens. 2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.

d.) Medicaid. gov waiver list — NY Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (0269.

R05. 00) . medicaid.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. medicaid. gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82671 NY Paid Family Leave provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 67% of your average weekly wage (up to the annual state cap) to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

PFL replaces lost wages while you're absent from work; it does not pay anyone for caregiving labor. Check paidfamilyleave. ny.

gov for current benefit rates. 3 Office of the Federal Register. (2025).

federalregister. gov. Retrieved May 20, 2026, from https://www. federalregister.

gov/documents/2025/09/29/2025-18827/extension-of-program-of-comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers-eligibility-for-legacy Medicare hospice covers up to 5 consecutive days of inpatient respite at a time , and can be used multiple times per benefit period subject to the hospice interdisciplinary group's approval, not just once a year.

Beneficiary coinsurance is 5% of the Medicare payment, capped at the annual inpatient hospital deductible. 1 Administration for Community Living. (n.

d.) Lifespan Respite Care Program . acl.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl. gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program There is currently no enacted New York state caregiver tax credit. A9587 and the "Rural Caregiver Relief Act" are pending in the legislature.

The Master Plan for Aging Final Report contemplates a caregiver tax credit and reimbursement program, but it remains aspirational. Do not assume any tax credit is currently claimable. 1.

The Federal Statutory Foundation Most of New York's respite spending flows from federal statutes. Understanding them helps explain why the same caregiver might be eligible at one door and ineligible at the next. 1.

1 Older Americans Act Title III-E, NFCSP The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) is the largest source of dedicated respite funding flowing to non-Medicaid family caregivers in New York. It's authorized at 42 USC § 3030s-1 . Who counts as an eligible caregiver?

Per the 2020 OAA reauthorization (P. L. 116-131) and the 2024 final rule: Adult family members or other informal caregivers (age 18+) caring for individuals 60+; Adult caregivers of individuals of any age with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) ; Older relative caregivers (age 55+) caring for children under 18 (kinship); Older relative caregivers (age 55+) caring for adults 18-59 with disabilities .

Functional impairment requirement.

Per NYSOFA 22-PI-15 implementing the federal standard, the care recipient must be functionally impaired, meaning they need substantial assistance with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs, the basic self-care tasks of bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting, and continence; verbal reminding, physical cueing, or supervision counts), or significant supervision due to cognitive or mental impairment posing a health or safety risk.

4 Administration for Community Living. (n. d.)

Administration for Community Living (HHS/ACL) — Long-Term Care Glossary . acl. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl.

gov/ltc/glossary Five allowable service categories under 42 USC § 3030s-1(b) : Information about available services; Assistance accessing services; Individual counseling, support groups, and caregiver training; Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from caregiving; Supplemental services on a limited basis. Funding.

State allotments are distributed by share of population age 70+, with a guaranteed minimum share for every state. The federal government provides the majority of the funding; states and localities contribute the required non-federal match. See ACL's NFCSP page for current national appropriation figures.

1. 2 The Lifespan Respite Care Act Enacted in 2006 (the Lifespan Respite Care Act, P. L.

109-442, under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act), the program is administered nationally by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) , which has awarded competitive grants to State Lifespan Respite Programs in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

New York's grant is sub-granted to Lifespan of Greater Rochester , which operates the New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC) and its respite voucher program. 1 Administration for Community Living. (n.

d.) Lifespan Respite Care Program . acl.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl. gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program 1. 3 The RAISE Family Caregivers Act Public Law 115-119 (2018), now codified at 42 USC § 254c-15, established the Family Caregiving Advisory Council.

The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers identified 350 federal actions and 150+ state and private actions. ACL convened a joint RAISE/Grandparents Council meeting January 20, 2026; another joint meeting was scheduled April 29, 2026. 1.

4 VA caregiver statutes 38 USC § 1720G(a) authorizes the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), including respite of not less than 30 days per year for the primary family caregiver. § 1720G(b) authorizes the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS), which extends respite eligibility to all enrolled veterans regardless of era or disability rating. See Section 4 for detail.

2. New York State-Level Structure 2. 1 NYSOFA, the state unit on aging NYSOFA (the New York State Office for the Aging, https://aging.

ny. gov/ ) is the State Unit on Aging designated under OAA Title III. NYSOFA channels NFCSP, EISEP, and the State Respite Program through area-agency-on-aging offices, one per county plus NYC DFTA covering all five boroughs.

The 2025 strategic shift. Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 23 in 2022 directing creation of the first-ever NY Master Plan for Aging (MPA). The MPA Final Report was released in 2025, containing 100+ proposals.

Proposals affecting respite include: Proposal #56, Caregiver Tax Credit and Reimbursement Program (a percentage of out-of-pocket caregiving costs up to a defined cap), flagged as long-term, not yet enacted . Multiple proposals to fund NYSCRC at sustainable levels. Workforce expansion proposals affecting social adult day, EISEP, and respite delivery capacity.

2. 2 NY Connects, the single front door NY Connects is New York's federally designated Aging and Disability Resource Center / No Wrong Door system, statutorily authorized under NY Elder Law § 214-d. Call 1-800-342-9871 , or use the online directory at https://www.

nyconnects. ny. gov/ .

Callers are routed to their county's NY Connects coordinator, who completes an information & assistance intake, identifies eligible programs (NFCSP, EISEP, OPWDD Front Door, NHTD/TBI, MLTC), and refers to the appropriate intake worker. 5 Office of the Federal Register. (2008).

CMS Final Rule — Self-Directed Personal Assistance Services Program State Plan Option (Cash and Counseling), 73 FR 57854 (Oct. 3, 2008) . federalregister.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. federalregister. gov/documents/full_text/text/2008/10/03/E8-23102.

txt This is the recommended starting point, even if you already know which program you want, because NY Connects intake also flags adjacent eligibility. Many caregivers call about NFCSP and discover their care recipient also qualifies for EISEP or MLTC respite. 2.

3 NYSOFA Caregiver Resource Centers NYSOFA funds a select group of county AAAs to operate local Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) . Check the NYSOFA page for the current list of CRC counties. Standard CRC services include: information & assistance, individual counseling, support groups, caregiver training, and (in most counties) NFCSP-funded respite vouchers or scholarships.

Some CRCs run specialized curricula for caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities or for minority populations. Geographic gap warning. Many counties do not have a dedicated CRC.

In those counties caregivers still access NFCSP services via the county AAA caregiver coordinator, but the level of caregiver-specific staffing varies materially. Don't assume CRC presence is universal. 2.

4 EISEP, Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program EISEP is authorized at NY Elder Law § 214 (1987); regulations at 9 NYCRR Subtitle Y.

It is fully state-funded, county-AAA-administered, and serves people 60+ who are NOT Medicaid-eligible (in 2026, New York's Community Medicaid income limit for a single applicant is $1,836/month, so seniors above that line generally cannot get equivalent Medicaid home care) and who need help with at least one ADL or two Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). 6 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026).

CMS Informational Bulletin (12/9/2025) — 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards (federal CSRA max $162,660; MMNA max $4,066. 50; home-equity max $1,130,000) . medicaid.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. medicaid. gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib12092025.

pdf Four EISEP service categories: Case management , universal for all enrollees. In-home assistance , Level I (IADL housekeeping, shopping, cooking) or Level II (ADL personal care like bathing, dressing, grooming). Provided via licensed home care agency, the EISEP consumer-directed model, or direct-hire (county-dependent).

Non-institutional respite , temporary relief through social adult day or in-home personal care for the primary informal caregiver. EISEP respite is the only respite stream tied to this elderly-but-not-Medicaid eligibility door. Ancillary services , home repairs, assistive devices, personal emergency response systems, etc. Cost-sharing.

EISEP is non-categorical (income does not bar eligibility) but operates on a sliding-scale cost-share based on income vs. cost of services delivered, ranging from no-cost to full-cost. AAAs collect cost-share via post-service billing. 2026 status.

The FY 2026 NY Enacted Budget held EISEP funding roughly flat year-over-year. EISEP waiting lists exist in larger counties; verify county-by-county. 2.

5 The NYSOFA State Respite Program The NYSOFA State Respite Program is a separately appropriated NY State General Fund line , not Title III-E NFCSP. NYSOFA contracts directly with community-based organizations to deliver in-home and out-of-home substitute care across a subset of counties. See NYSOFA's State Respite Program page for the current grantee list and counties served.

Eligibility. Family or unpaid caregivers supporting adults unable to meet daily needs due to mental or physical impairment. Priority goes to caregivers of care recipients age 60+ who are frail or disabled.

The State Respite Program does not pay the family caregiver, it pays a substitute caregiver. Counties not covered by the State Respite Program rely on NFCSP, EISEP, NYSCRC vouchers, and Medicaid waiver respite. 2.

6 NY Paid Family Leave (PFL) Statute: NY Workers' Compensation Law Article 9, § 200 et seq. 67% of average weekly wage; Capped at $1,228. 53/week (67% of the 2026 New York State Average Weekly Wage of $1,833.

63); Job protection (continued health insurance, return-to-job rights); Employee contribution rate 0. 432% of gross wages in 2026 (up from 0. 388% in 2025), with a maximum annual contribution of $411.

91 , per the NYS Department of Financial Services 2026 rate decision . 3 Office of the Federal Register. (2025).

federalregister. gov. Retrieved May 20, 2026, from https://www. federalregister.

gov/documents/2025/09/29/2025-18827/extension-of-program-of-comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers-eligibility-for-legacy Who counts as a "family member" under 12 NYCRR § 380-2. 5: spouse, domestic partner, child or stepchild (any age), parent or step-parent or parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, and "any individual with whom the employee has a close personal relationship" (effective 2023 expansion).

Important misunderstanding to avoid. PFL pays the caregiver's lost wages while they're absent from work providing or arranging care. It does not pay anyone for caregiving labor itself.

PFL is funded by employee payroll deductions, not by state appropriation. PFL applies to private-sector employees and certain public-sector workers (some public employers opt in or out under collective bargaining). PFL is also distinct from federal FMLA, which provides 12 weeks of unpaid (job-protected) leave under separate rules.

How PFL pairs with respite. A common scenario: a working caregiver takes two weeks of PFL to relieve their parent's full-time aide; PFL replaces the caregiver's wages, the aide is unaffected, and the caregiver fully takes over for two weeks. Another scenario: PFL in single-day increments to cover medical appointments or urgent needs.

PFL is NOT respite per se, but it makes respite financially viable for working caregivers. 2. 7 NY family caregiver tax credit, status as of mid-2026 There is no enacted state caregiver tax credit currently.

Active legislative proposals: A9587 (2025-2026 session) would establish a caregiver tax credit of up to $6,000 and a reimbursement program administered by NYSOFA. Pending. 1 Administration for Community Living.

(n. d.) Lifespan Respite Care Program .

acl. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl. gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program The "Rural Caregiver Relief Act" would provide a separate credit for caregivers in rural areas.

Pending. The Master Plan for Aging's caregiver-credit proposal , flagged as long-term; not yet enacted. Some online sources cite a "temporary 2024 caregiver tax provision," verify any such claim against the specific New York Tax Law section and the FY 2026 Enacted Budget before relying on it.

AARP NY has lobbied for the credit but does not claim it is current law. The federal Credit for Caring Act (119th Congress) is also pending; it would create a federal nonrefundable credit for eligible working caregivers. Not enacted.

3. Respite Care in New York Through Medicaid Waivers and Managed Care If your care recipient is enrolled in Medicaid, they may have a dedicated respite benefit built into their waiver or managed care plan. This is the highest-dollar respite source by far, but it requires the care recipient be enrolled in the qualifying program first.

New York's four 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers are authorized under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, which lets a state cover home- and community-based services for people who would otherwise need a nursing-facility level of care. 7 U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.

d.) 42 U.S.C. 1396n(c) — Home and community-based waiver authority .

govinfo. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. govinfo.

gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title42/html/USCODE-2023-title42-chap7-subchapXIX-sec1396n. htm Authority: 1915(c) HCBS Waiver NY. 0444 (Nursing Home Transition and Diversion).

Service definition (per the NYSDOH NHTD Program Manual): NHTD respite provides scheduled relief to unpaid caregivers who provide primary care to a waiver participant. It is delivered in 24-hour blocks, generally up to 30 days per year, and is provided primarily in the participant's home or another dwelling acceptable to the participant. Provider-delivered only.

NHTD respite is delivered by certified Respite provider agency staff. Family caregivers cannot self-pay; spouses cannot deliver paid NHTD respite. Roughly 30 days per year , delivered in 24-hour blocks.

2026 enrollment update. New York amended the NHTD waiver to a maximum of 9,400 participants (approved December 23, 2025), then raised the cap to 14,079 participants for waiver years 2025-26 through 2027-28 (accepted May 15, 2026).

Because the program periodically reaches its approved maximum, NYSDOH can pause new referrals, but the Regional Resource Development Centers now process referrals first-come, first-served as census space opens, so NHTD is no longer categorically closed to new applicants the way it was in late 2025. See our NY HCBS Waivers complete guide for the full cap context. 2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

(n. d.) Medicaid.

gov waiver list — NY Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (0269. R05. 00) .

medicaid. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. medicaid.

gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82671 Authority: 1915(c) HCBS Waiver NY. 0269. R05.

00 (Traumatic Brain Injury). Eligibility limited to individuals who experienced a documented TBI between ages 18 and 64 and require nursing-facility level of care. The TBI waiver service definition mirrors NHTD's: "TBI Respite Care Services may be included in the Service Plan to provide relief to informal, non-paid supports who provide primary care and support to a participant."

Same 30-day annual cap structure; same provider-only delivery model. The TBI waiver is not subject to the NHTD enrollment freeze and is operating normally in 2026. 3.

3 OPWDD Comprehensive Waiver Respite Authority: 1915(c) HCBS Comprehensive Waiver NY. 0238. R07.

00 (effective 10/1/2024 – 9/30/2029, latest amendment 4/1/2025), administered by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. Respite is one of OPWDD's core HCBS services. 2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

(n. d.) Medicaid.

gov waiver list — NY Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (0269. R05. 00) .

medicaid. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. medicaid.

gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82671 Modalities (per OPWDD HCBS Service Definitions): In-Home Respite , staff comes to the participant's home. Site-Based Respite , participant goes to a certified respite site, often associated with a day program or a freestanding site.

"Site-based respite is available to individuals living with their families and provides participants the opportunity to socialize, make new friends, experience new leisure activities, receive homework assistance, and relax in a safe environment while caregivers finish out their workday." Community-Based / Recreational Respite , supported community activities.

Overnight / Sleepover Respite , overnight stays at certified Free Standing Respite (FSR) sites or Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs). Crisis Respite (Resource Centers) , IRA / FSR facilities certified by OPWDD as Resource Centers serving CSIDD-enrolled individuals; provides crisis stabilization, assessment, treatment, and intervention identification to avoid hospitalization. Coordinated through NYSTART regional teams.

See OPWDD ADM 2021-07. OPWDD Self-Direction respite, the major exception to the "no cash to family" rule. OPWDD's Self-Direction model uses budget authority, meaning the participant (or their representative) controls an individualized service budget and decides how to spend it on approved supports.

Within that budget, participants can fund Family Reimbursed Respite : the family pays upfront for respite-related goods or services and is reimbursed through the Fiscal Intermediary, subject to an annual cap set in the participant's Self-Direction budget.

This is the only Medicaid pathway in New York where a family member can effectively be reimbursed for respite-related expenditures, though the reimbursement is for goods and services, not direct compensation for the family caregiver's care labor. Confirm the current cap with your Care Coordination Organization before relying on a specific dollar figure. 7 U.S. Government Publishing Office.

(n. d.) 42 U.S.C.

1396n(j) — Self-directed personal assistance services . govinfo. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.

govinfo. gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title42/html/USCODE-2023-title42-chap7-subchapXIX-sec1396n. htm CAS / CANS June 1, 2026 effective date.

OPWDD has been transitioning from the legacy Developmental Disabilities Profile 2 (DDP-2) to the Coordinated Assessment System (CAS) for adults and CANS-NY for children. Authorization of HCBS service hours, including respite, will follow the CAS algorithm starting June 1, 2026 in the rolled-out regions. The transition meaningfully affects respite hour authorizations because the algorithm replaces the legacy budget-tier methodology.

2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n. d.)

Medicaid. gov waiver list — NY Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (0269. R05.

00) . medicaid. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.

medicaid. gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/82671 3. 4 Children's 1915(c) Waiver Respite Authority: Children's 1915(c) HCBS Waiver NY.

4125. R06. 03 (latest amendment effective April 1, 2026).

Operates the consolidated children's HCBS benefit (formerly six separate child waivers consolidated in 2019). Services include Planned Respite and Crisis Respite .

The April 2026 amendment revised respite service definitions and rates among other changes (also rolled Day Habilitation into Community Habilitation and ended Maximus's role as the C-YES / Independent Entity for Medicaid-enrolled children, Health Homes now perform that function). Consult the official approved amendment document for current respite definition language. 3.

5 BH HCBS / Crisis Residence Authority: 1115 MRT BH HCBS for HARP (Health and Recovery Plan) and HIV SNP enrollees historically. Adult BH HCBS originally included Short-Term Crisis Respite and Intensive Crisis Respite for individuals facing a behavioral-health crisis. 8 New York State Department of Health.

(n. d.) Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) .

health. ny. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.

health. ny. gov/health_care/managed_care/mltc/map.

htm 2024 transition. Adult BH HCBS Short-Term Crisis Respite and Intensive Crisis Respite transitioned to Crisis Residence services under the broader Crisis Intervention Benefit, available to ALL adult Medicaid Managed Care enrollees , not just HARP. This expanded access beyond the HARP-only population and is now the operative pathway.

MLTC partial-cap, MAP, and PACE plans cover services in lieu of nursing-facility care for Medicaid-eligible duals 21+ requiring 120+ days of community-based LTSS. While "respite" is not always a discrete MLTC line item, MLTC plans cover Social Adult Day Care and many cover personal care or CDPAP at sufficient hours to function as caregiver respite .

PACE plans (e.g., CenterLight, ArchCare) can also cover overnight respite stays at the PACE day center under certain models. 8 New York State Department of Health. (n.

d.) Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) . health.

ny. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. health.

ny. gov/health_care/managed_care/mltc/map. htm For full plan structure, see our NY Managed Long Term Care complete guide .

For the integrated Medicare-Medicaid product type, see NY Medicaid Advantage Plus . 8 New York State Department of Health. (n.

d.) Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) . health.

ny. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www. health.

ny. gov/health_care/managed_care/mltc/map. htm 4.

VA Respite for Veteran Caregivers If your care recipient is a veteran enrolled in VA care, the VA's two caregiver programs both include respite. Statute: 38 USC § 1720G(a) . Eligibility was expanded in two phases per the MISSION Act: Phase 1 (WWII through 5/7/1975 vets); Phase 2 (5/8/1975 through 9/10/2001 vets, effective October 2022).

Monthly stipend (Tier 1 or Tier 2 based on functional need); CHAMPVA health coverage for the caregiver; Mental-health counseling; Technical training and financial planning; Respite care available for at least 30 days per year , and more if clinically appropriate and requested by the primary family caregiver (per 38 CFR § 71. 40). 1 Administration for Community Living.

(n. d.) Lifespan Respite Care Program .

acl. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl. gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program For full PCAFC eligibility detail see our How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in New York flagship.

Statute: 38 USC § 1720G(b). Covers all enrolled veterans regardless of era or disability rating. No stipend.

Provides peer support, skills training, telephone support through the VA Caregiver Support Line (1-855-260-3274), wellness contacts, education, and respite care up to 30 days per year . 3 Office of the Federal Register. (2025).

federalregister. gov. Retrieved May 20, 2026, from https://www. federalregister.

gov/documents/2025/09/29/2025-18827/extension-of-program-of-comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers-eligibility-for-legacy 4. 3 Three VA-purchased respite modalities VA respite can be delivered three ways, and the VA's firm 30-day cap applies specifically to institutional respite: In-Home Respite , a Home Health Aide comes to the veteran's home.

Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Respite , the veteran attends a VA-purchased adult day program. Nursing Home Respite , the veteran goes to a VA Community Living Center (CLC) or a community nursing home for a short stay, available for a maximum of 30 days per calendar year. In-home and adult-day respite are not subject to that specific institutional cap.

9 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n. d.)

VA Nursing Homes And Assisted Living . va. gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://www.

va. gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/long-term-care/ , 1 Administration for Community Living. (n.

d.) Lifespan Respite Care Program . acl.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl. gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program Coordination runs through the facility Caregiver Support Coordinator (every VAMC has one). New York VAMCs include VA NY Harbor (Manhattan, Brooklyn, St.

Albans), Bronx, Northport, Hudson Valley, Albany, Syracuse, Bath, Canandaigua, and Buffalo. 5. How to Get a Respite Voucher Through Your County AAA and NFCSP Each NY AAA receives an annual NFCSP allocation (federal Title III-E plus state match).

Under NFCSP, allowable services explicitly include in-home and out-of-home respite to give caregivers temporary relief, and AAAs allocate a portion of their funds to it. Implementation models vary by county : 1 Administration for Community Living. (n.

d.) Lifespan Respite Care Program . acl.

gov. Retrieved Jun 24, 2026, from https://acl. gov/programs/support-caregivers/lifespan-respite-care-program Voucher / scholarship. The AAA reimburses the caregiver up to a per-caregiver annual cap for approved respite providers.

Amounts vary widely by county, so ask your county AAA what its current cap is. Direct service contract. AAA contracts with a home care agency and assigns hours to caregivers.

Caregiver-Directed Respite (NYSOFA TAM 23-04 model). Optional service-delivery model allowing caregivers to choose their own respite worker (including family or friends) under an AAA-administered framework. Adoption is county-by-county.

NYC DFTA caregiver services NYC's AAA, the Department for the Aging, issued updated Caregiver Services Standards of Operation and Scope of Services in October 2025 . DFTA contracts with multiple borough-based providers to deliver NFCSP-compliant Caregiver Resource Centers. Voucher amounts and eligibility detail are in the DFTA standards document.

Nassau County Office for the Aging , operates a NYSOFA-funded CRC; partners with EAC Inc. for State Respite Program coverage. Westchester County DSPS , operates a NYSOFA-funded CRC; partners with NYSCRC's Field Hall Foundation grant covering Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess. Suffolk County Office for the Aging , partners with RiseWell for State Respite Program; runs NFCSP separately.

Rockland, Orange, Putnam County OFAs , operate CRCs. Caregiver-Directed Respite (NYSOFA TAM 23-04) NYSOFA in 2023 issued Technical Assistance Memorandum 23-TAM-04 implementing an optional Caregiver-Directed Respite Care service-delivery model under NFCSP.

The model allows AAAs to offer caregivers a voucher-style mechanism where caregivers choose their respite provider, potentially including family or friends, with administrative oversight by the AAA. This is the closest NFCSP comes to letting a caregiver hire their own informal helper. Adoption varies by county.

NFCSP allocation methodology NYSOFA distributes the federal NFCSP allotment using an Intra-State Funding Formula approved as part of the State Plan on Aging submitted to ACL every 4 years. The formula weights factors like 60+/70+ population, low-income elderly, minority elderly, and rural elderly. Specific 2026 county allocations are published in NYSOFA's annual funding letters.

6. Adult Day Programs as Respite Adult day programs are one of the most underused but highest-value respite tools in New York. They function as employment-respite for working caregivers (3–5 days/week) and as scheduled relief for full-time caregivers.

6. 1 Social Adult Day Services (SADS / SADC) Regulation: 9 NYCRR § 6654. 20 .

SADS programs provide variety of long-term-care services to functionally impaired individuals in congregate, community, or home settings. Primary objectives include reducing loneliness/isolation, improving social determinants of health, providing respite and support to caregivers , and helping working caregivers balance employment with caregiving.

NYSOFA Grant Recipients , 12 named organizations operate SADS with direct NYSOFA grant support. Local AAA SADS , approximately 52 additional programs funded locally. MLTC-contracted SADC , providers must follow NY DOH requirements rather than NYSOFA regulations.

MLTC plans pay SADC providers directly for enrolled members under MLTC Policy 13. 11. Private pay , at daily rates that vary by locality (downstate and New York City generally run higher than upstate).

Certification. SADCs contracting with MLTC plans must be certified by DOH/OMIG/NYSOFA per 9 NYCRR § 6654. 20 standards.

Respite use case. Working family caregivers commonly use SADC three to five days per week as employment-respite. SADC operates four to eight hours per day, providing supervision, meals, and social activities, but no medical care .

6. 2 Adult Day Health Care (ADHC / Medical Model) Regulation: 10 NYCRR Part 425 . ADHC is the medical-model day program operating from a residential health-care facility (nursing home) or freestanding site.

ADHC provides nursing assessments,