Ohio Senior Services for Kinship Grandparents: Area Agencies on Aging and Support Groups

A System Most Kinship Grandparents Don't Know About

When people think of Ohio's aging services network, they think of meal delivery and senior transportation — not help for grandparents raising grandchildren. But Ohio's 12 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) administer the National Family Caregiver Support Program under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, and that program specifically covers older relative caregivers raising children.

If you're 55 or older and raising a minor grandchild or other relative's child (and you're not the child's biological parent), you can access AAA caregiver services. Eligibility is based on your age and caregiving role; contact your AAA to ask which services and funding are available locally.

What AAAs Provide

Services vary by region, but the Title III-E caregiver program typically includes:

Respite care subsidies. Short-term care for the child so you can attend medical appointments, handle errands, or simply rest. Respite can be in-home (someone comes to your house) or out-of-home (the child attends a licensed program). This is particularly valuable for grandparents managing their own health conditions while caring for an active child.

Caregiver counseling and training. Individual counseling or structured training on topics like childhood trauma, behavioral challenges, navigating school systems, and managing the emotional toll of kinship care.

Support groups. Peer groups where other kinship grandparents share experiences, advice, and local resource tips. Some AAAs run these in-person; others offer phone or virtual options for rural caregivers. The Ohio Grandparent/Kinship Coalition (OGKC) also maintains a caregiver advocacy hotline at (330) 737-7121 and connects grandparents to support networks across the state.

Material assistance. Help with specific expenses — school supplies, clothing, emergency household items — depending on available funding.

Information and referral. AAA staff can connect you to other programs: Medicaid, SNAP, OWF, transportation services, legal aid, and community organizations you might not find on your own.

How to Find Your Area Agency on Aging

Ohio has 12 AAAs covering all 88 counties. Search online for the AAA serving your county. OhioKAN (1-844-644-6526) also connects kinship caregivers to local community resources; ask about aging-services options in your county.

When you call your AAA, ask specifically about the National Family Caregiver Support Program and mention that you're a grandparent (or relative aged 55+) raising a minor child. Some intake workers may not immediately think of kinship care when you call a senior services agency, so being specific helps you get routed to the right program.

AAA Services Alongside Kinship Benefits

AAA caregiver support is separate from and in addition to the financial benefit programs administered by county JFS and PCSAs. You can receive AAA respite care while also collecting OWF child-only cash, SNAP, Medicaid, and KPI payments. There's no conflict between the programs — they serve different needs.

For grandparents on fixed incomes, stacking these resources makes a real difference. OWF and SNAP cover the child's basic needs. Medicaid covers healthcare. And AAA services address the caregiver's own sustainability — the respite, the emotional support, and the practical help that keeps the arrangement stable over years.

Our Ohio Kinship Financial Help guide covers the full landscape of Ohio programs available to kinship caregivers, from cash assistance and food benefits to emergency funds and KGAP permanency payments. Pair it with your local AAA's caregiver program and OhioKAN's navigator service, and you've covered nearly every avenue of support available in the state.

See more Ohio guides →