Maine Respite Care for Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers

Raising a grandchild full-time without a break leads to burnout faster than most people realize. Maine has several respite care programs specifically for older adults and kinship caregivers who need temporary relief — even a few hours a week — to rest, attend medical appointments, or simply catch their breath.

What Respite Care Looks Like for Kinship Caregivers

Respite care is temporary, short-term care for the child so the primary caregiver can step away. It might mean:

• A trained volunteer or aide watches the child at your home for a few hours
• The child attends a supervised day program while you handle appointments
• Overnight or weekend respite through a licensed provider

Respite is not foster care and does not involve any change in legal custody. You remain the child's caregiver throughout.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III-E)

Maine's Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), with the Area Agencies on Aging, administers the National Family Caregiver Support Program under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act. This federal program specifically serves:

• Caregivers aged 55 and older who are raising minor children related to them (grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles)
• Older relatives aged 55+ caring for adults ages 18 to 59 with disabilities

Services funded through Title III-E include respite care, counseling, support groups, caregiver training, and supplemental services (help with transportation or emergency supplies).

To access these services, contact your local Area Agency on Aging through the statewide toll-free number: 1-877-353-3771. They will assess your needs and connect you with respite providers in your county.

AFFM Kinship Program Support

Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine (AFFM) operates the state's Kinship Navigator Program and provides practical support to relative caregivers. While AFFM's primary role is navigation and peer support rather than direct respite care, kinship navigators can:

• Help you identify respite care providers in your area
• Connect you with emergency material assistance (beds, clothing, diapers) that indirectly frees up time and energy
• Link you to peer support groups where other kinship caregivers share strategies for managing burnout

Reach AFFM at 207-827-2331.

Finding Respite Through 211 Maine

Dialing 211 connects you to Maine's statewide resource directory. When you call, ask specifically about respite care for kinship caregivers. 211 Maine provides an online directory of local services and information and referral by phone.

Paying for Respite Care

If you qualify for the Title III-E program through your Area Agency on Aging, respite hours are provided at no cost or reduced cost depending on the program's funding cycle. Some programs have waitlists, especially in rural counties.

CCAP is administered separately through DHHS's Office of Child and Family Services. It helps eligible families pay for child care while adults work, attend school, or train; eligible retired adults who are a child's legal guardian may also qualify. It is not a respite program.

Building Respite into Your Routine

Occasional respite is helpful, but consistent scheduled breaks prevent the kind of deep exhaustion that accumulates over months. The Maine Kinship Financial Help guide walks through every benefit available to relative caregivers — including how to layer respite care, childcare subsidies, and family support programs into a sustainable weekly routine.

See more Maine guides →