NC Respite Care for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

What Respite Care Means for Kinship Caregivers

Respite care is temporary, short-term childcare that gives you a break from full-time caregiving. For a grandparent who wasn't planning to raise a young child again — often while managing their own health needs — respite isn't a luxury. It's what keeps the placement stable.

In North Carolina, respite care for kinship caregivers is funded primarily through the Family Caregiver Support Program under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act. This isn't a public benefit application like Work First or Medicaid. It's a service administered through your regional Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

Who Qualifies

You must be 55 or older and raising a child under 18 (or an adult child with a disability). The child doesn't need to be your grandchild — nieces, nephews, and other relative children count. You don't need a court order. Informal kinship care arrangements qualify.

There's no income test for Title III-E respite services. The AAA may prioritize families with greater need, but eligibility isn't gated by your earnings or assets.

What Respite Looks Like

Depending on your AAA's available funding and local providers, respite care can take several forms:

In-home care: A trained caregiver comes to your home for a few hours or a full day so you can attend medical appointments, run errands, or simply rest.

Out-of-home care: The child attends a licensed childcare facility or a day program while you take time off.

Summer camp and after-school programs: Some AAAs provide direct funding for camp tuition or after-school programs, treating these as respite for the caregiver. This is particularly valuable during summer break when school-year routines disappear and full-time childcare falls entirely on you.

Weekend or overnight respite: Less common but available in some regions, particularly for caregivers managing health crises or recovering from surgery.

How to Access Respite in Your Area

Contact your regional Area Agency on Aging. North Carolina has 16 AAAs, each covering a cluster of counties. You can find yours by:

• Calling the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services
• Dialing 211 and asking specifically about kinship caregiver respite
• Asking at your county DSS office — they can refer you to the right AAA

When you call, ask these questions:

1. What types of respite care are currently funded in my area?
2. Is there a waitlist?
3. How many hours of respite per month can I receive?
4. Can funding cover summer camp tuition for my grandchild?

Availability varies significantly by region. Urban areas like Wake and Mecklenburg counties tend to have more provider options. Rural counties may have limited provider networks, but respite funding can sometimes cover a trusted neighbor, church volunteer, or family friend who provides care (rules vary by AAA).

Why Respite Matters for Placement Stability

Research on kinship care consistently shows that caregiver burnout is one of the top reasons placements disrupt. A grandparent who pushes through without breaks — managing school runs, medical appointments, behavioral challenges, and financial stress — eventually hits a wall. Respite isn't about wanting a break. It's about keeping the child safely in a family home instead of entering the foster care system.

If you're also navigating the financial side of kinship care — Work First applications, food stamps, Medicaid enrollment — the NC Kinship Financial Help Guide covers all of those programs in one place, so you can handle the paperwork efficiently and save your energy for the child.

See more North Carolina guides →