Respite Care for Kinship Caregivers in Massachusetts

What Respite Care Means for a Kinship Caregiver

Respite care is temporary relief — someone else watches the child for a few hours or a few days so you can go to a doctor's appointment, handle personal errands, or simply rest. For grandparents and relatives raising children on top of their own health needs and responsibilities, it is not a luxury. It is what keeps the arrangement sustainable.

Massachusetts has several avenues for respite, and most are free or low-cost. The catch is that no single agency coordinates all of them, so you may need to contact two or three places to find what fits.

MassOptions and the Family Caregiver Support Program

The primary state program for kinship respite is the Family Caregiver Support Program, run through the Executive Office of Aging and Independence. It serves caregivers aged 55 and older who are raising a child under 18.

Call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636. A regional Caregiver Specialist will assess your situation and connect you with:

• In-home respite providers who come to your house so the child's routine stays the same
• Adult day programs if you are also caring for an elderly spouse or parent alongside the child
• Counseling referrals for caregiver burnout and stress
• Connection to your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), which may have additional respite funds

You do not need legal guardianship to qualify. Informal caregivers — grandparents or relatives raising a child without a court order — are eligible as long as the child lives in your home and you are the primary caregiver.

Family Resource Centers

Massachusetts Family Resource Centers (FRCs) provide local family support and referrals. Services vary by region, but many FRCs can:

• Help you locate short-term childcare or respite options during a family crisis
• Connect you to local churches, community organizations, or volunteer networks that provide occasional childcare
• Refer you to support groups where other kinship caregivers share respite strategies and trusted babysitters

Contact the Kinship Navigator helpline at 1-844-924-4546 to locate your nearest FRC.

DCF Respite for Licensed Kinship Foster Parents

If the child in your care was placed by DCF and you are a licensed kinship foster parent, DCF guidance entitles foster parents to 10 respite days per year. Contact your DCF social worker to plan the respite and confirm the approved provider. This is a different track from community-based options and applies while the child is in DCF foster care.

If you eventually transition from DCF foster care to legal guardianship through the Guardianship Assistance Program, ask your DCF social worker whether any respite provisions carry over into the GAP agreement.

Senior Centers

Do not overlook your local Senior Center. Some Senior Centers across Massachusetts offer intergenerational programs or children's activities. Even when a center does not have a formal respite program, the staff may know which local organizations do.

If you are a grandparent on a fixed income raising a child, the Senior Center is also a good place to learn about other help you might qualify for — SNAP benefits, fuel assistance, and free meal programs.

For a full map of every financial benefit available to Massachusetts kinship caregivers, including the programs that fund respite, the Massachusetts Kinship Financial Help guide walks through each one with application steps and the documents you need.

See more Massachusetts guides →