Nebraska Area Agency on Aging Respite Care for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

When people think of Area Agencies on Aging, they think of meal delivery and senior centers — not grandparents raising young children. But if you are 55 or older and caring for a grandchild or relative's child in Nebraska, your local AAA runs a federal program specifically for you. It is called the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and it covers services that DHHS economic assistance does not touch.

What Title III-E Covers

The National Family Caregiver Support Program operates under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act. It is delivered through the Nebraska State Unit on Aging and the regional Area Agencies on Aging across the state. The services are not entitlements — they are funded programs with limited budgets — but they are free to eligible caregivers.

Who qualifies: You must be age 55 or older and serving as the primary caregiver for a child under 18 who is related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption. You do not need to be the biological or adoptive parent — that is the whole point. Informal kinship arrangements qualify; no court order or guardianship is required.

Available services:

• Respite care — temporary relief so you can attend medical appointments, rest, or handle personal business. This may be in-home care, adult day services, or short-term overnight arrangements for the child.
• Information and assistance — help identifying community resources you may not know exist.
• Individual counseling — one-on-one support for the emotional weight of unexpected caregiving.
• Support groups — peer connections with other grandparent caregivers in your region.
• Caregiver training — practical skills for managing a child's behavioral or developmental needs.
• Supplemental services — limited help with minor home adaptations (safety gates, beds) or emergency supplies when a child first arrives.

Finding Your Local AAA

Nebraska has eight Area Agencies on Aging covering different regions:

• Aging Partners — Lancaster County and surrounding area (Lincoln)
• Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA) — Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, Washington counties (Omaha)
• Midland Area Agency on Aging — central Nebraska counties
• Northeast Nebraska Area Agency on Aging (NENAAA) — northeast region
• South Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging — south central counties
• West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging — North Platte area
• Aging Office of Western Nebraska — panhandle
• Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging — southeast Nebraska

Call the Nebraska Aging & Disability Resource Center at 1-844-843-6364 to be connected with the AAA serving your county.

How This Fits With DHHS Benefits

Title III-E services fill gaps that cash programs do not cover. ADC child-only grants provide money for the child's basic needs. Medicaid covers the child's health care. But none of those programs give you a break from caregiving, help you adapt your home for a child, or connect you with other grandparents who understand what you are going through.

These services run through a completely separate system from DHHS Economic Assistance, so applying for one does not affect the other.

Putting It All Together

Between DHHS cash and health programs and your local AAA's caregiver services, Nebraska has more support for grandparent caregivers than most people realize. The challenge is knowing which agency handles what and keeping track of all the applications and renewals. Our Nebraska Financial Help Guide maps every program — state benefits and community support — into one organized reference with the contact numbers and document checklists you need.

See more Nebraska guides →