Family Caregiver Support Program | High Country Area Agency on Aging

High Country Area Agency on Aging’s Family Caregiver Support Program provides resources and support to help caregivers manage stress, reduce burnout, and continue caring for their loved ones. By strengthening caregivers, we help families avoid or delay costly institutional care.

Who is a Caregiver?

A caregiver is anyone who provides ongoing support to a loved one. You may be a caregiver if you:

Assist with personal care such as bathing, dressing, eating, or mobility.
Help with shopping, finances, medical appointments, or household tasks.
Coordinate healthcare or services for a loved one, even from a distance.
Oversee the care of a loved one living in a facility.

Eligibility

You may qualify for support if you are an unpaid caregiver for:

An adult age 60+ who needs help with at least two daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, walking, transferring, or toileting.
Someone living with dementia or severe memory loss.

Respite Services

Respite provides caregivers with a much-needed break, helping to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and support overall well-being. Relief can take many forms, but the goal is always the same – sharing the responsibility of caregiving so families don’t have to do it alone.

In additional to Project CARE and the Lifespan Respite Program, the Family Caregiver Support Program provides caregiver directed vouchers, based upon availability and eligibility.

Support Groups and Services

Connection to Resources

We help caregivers access local services, case management, supportive services, education, and referrals tailored to their needs.

Support Groups

Our groups across the region offer welcoming spaces to share experiences, gain encouragement, and connect with others.

Case Management and In-Home Assessments

We bring support directly to you – offering home visits, consultations, emergency planning, and safety evaluations.

Educational Programs

Our workshops cover practical caregiving topics, dementia awareness, and resources for both caregivers and the general public.

Dementia Friends

Dementia Friends USA is part of a global effort to change the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Through brief training sessions, participants learn how to better understand and support people living with dementia – turning knowledge into action.

For additional information on High Country Area Agency on Aging's Family Caregiver Support Program, contact Myles Stacey at 828-265-5434 x113 or mstacey@hccog.org.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program

Each Area Agency on Aging in North Carolina adapts the Family Caregiver Support Program to meet local needs. At High Country Area Agency on Aging, we recognize that every grandfamily is unique, so our program is flexible to support a wide range of situations.

We offer a wide range of support to help caregivers and families thrive:

Camp or after-school program assistance
Clothing and shoes
Counseling or support group referrals
Educational support (supplies, technology, tutoring)
Food and formula
Home safety improvements
Household items and cleaning supplies
Legal assistance referrals
Personal emergency planning
Respite vouchers
Self-care items (diapers, toiletries, medication assistance)
Other needs, as identified through consultation

Eligibility for Grandparents Raising Grandparents Program

You may qualify for services if you:

Live in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, or Yancey County
Are 55+ and provide unpaid care for:
- A relative child age 18 or younger, or
- An adult age 18–59 with a developmental disability
Have the care recipient living with you as their primary caregiver
Legal custody/guardianship is preferred but not required
No income information is required to receive services

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program Informational Flyer (English)

Folletto Informativo del Programa de Abuelos Criando Nietos (ESP)

For additional information on High Country Area Agency on Aging's Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, contact Myles Stacey at 828-265-5434 x113 or mstacey@hccog.org.

Caregiving Resources

National Alliance for Caregiving
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
North Carolina Caregiver Portal (also known as TRUALTA)