All Caregiver Support Services

    Delaware · Caregiver Support

    Free and Low-Cost Caregiver Support in Delaware

    Caring for an aging loved one is one of the hardest jobs there is — and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Below are 28 verified Delaware programs offering emotional support, respite, training, financial help, peer groups, and legal planning — most of them completely free.

    Last updated July 2026

    Start here in Delaware

    National Family Caregiver Support Program — Delaware

    One call connects Delaware family caregivers to free counseling, respite, training, and support groups through their local Area Agency on Aging.

    Delaware ADRC — Aging and Disability Resource Center

    Free

    Statewide — all three counties

    Delaware's single point of entry for caregivers. Provides information, options counseling, emotional support, and connection to services for older persons, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers.

    No wrong door — ADRC serves as the gateway to all state caregiver services

    Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter — 24/7 Helpline

    Free

    Statewide — Philadelphia-based chapter serving all of Delaware

    Around the clock emotional support, crisis assistance, and care consultations for dementia caregivers. Delaware Valley Chapter serves all of Delaware plus Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey.

    Chapter phone: 215-875-2500. Free 24/7 helpline available in over 200 languages

    Delaware Caregiver Resource Centers Network

    Free

    Statewide — access points in all three counties

    Caregiver Resource Centers throughout Delaware providing information, assistance, and emotional support tailored to each caregiver's individual situation. Part of the DSAAPD statewide network.

    Contact the ADRC at 800-223-9074 to find your nearest Caregiver Resource Center

    988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    Free

    Statewide

    Free 24/7 confidential emotional support for caregivers experiencing burnout, distress, or crisis. Available by call or text anytime.

    Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

    211 Delaware

    Free

    Statewide

    Free 24/7 connection to local health and human services including emotional support, crisis intervention, and caregiver resource referrals across all three Delaware counties.

    Call or text 211 anytime — also available online

    Delaware Assistance for Caregivers Program — Respite

    Free

    Statewide

    Respite care for primary caregivers of individuals 60+ (or younger with early-onset dementia). In-home, caregiver-home, or adult day care settings. Regularly scheduled or one-time. Access through DSAAPD.

    Caregiver need not be related to or live with care recipient — primary caregiver must be unpaid

    Delaware Lifespan Respite Program — Vouchers

    Free

    Statewide

    Respite vouchers for eligible caregivers allowing them to pay for care for their loved ones while they take a break. Administered through DSAAPD. Expanded through Delaware Alzheimer's Disease Initiative.

    Contact ADRC at 800-223-9074 to apply — voucher amounts and eligibility verified annually

    Delaware Adult Day Services

    Free

    Statewide — centers in all three counties

    Adult day service centers in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties providing activities and assistance for people with physical or cognitive impairments while caregivers work or rest.

    Also available as Alzheimer's Day Treatment — contact ADRC to find centers near you

    National Respite Locator

    Free

    Statewide — search by Delaware zip code

    Searchable database of nearly 3,000 respite providers. Search by Delaware zip code to find local and regional respite options beyond state programs.

    Run by ARCH National Respite Network

    See websiteVisit website

    VA Caregiver Support Program — Respite

    Free

    Statewide — Veterans only

    At least 30 days annual respite care for caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Wilmington VA Medical Center serves Delaware veterans.

    Must be caring for a veteran enrolled in VA healthcare — contact Wilmington VAMC at 302-994-2511

    Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley — Education Programs

    Free

    Statewide — in person and virtual

    Free education programs for dementia caregivers including care consultations, ALZ Talks webinars, and in-person workshops across Delaware. Delaware Valley Chapter covers all of Delaware.

    Call chapter or visit website for current Delaware program schedule — virtual options available

    Delaware Caregiver Resource Centers — Training

    Free

    Statewide

    Caregiver skills training and education through Delaware's Caregiver Resource Centers. Covers caregiving techniques, stress management, and navigating long-term care. Part of Assistance for Caregivers Program.

    Contact ADRC to be connected to your regional Caregiver Resource Center

    Delaware Alzheimer's Disease Initiative — Resources

    Free

    Statewide

    State initiative in partnership with Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter providing training, legal services, and expanded resources for Alzheimer's caregivers across Delaware.

    Includes expanded legal services program and Caregiver Resource Center training specifically for Alzheimer's caregivers

    Family Caregiver Alliance — Online Resources

    Free

    National — available to all Delaware caregivers

    Comprehensive library of caregiver education including fact sheets, online programs, and Delaware-specific resource directory. Caregiving 101 and self-care programs available free.

    No registration required for most online resources

    AARP Delaware Caregiver Resource Center

    Free

    Statewide

    Free caregiver tools, guides, and education. AARP Care Guide, financial worksheets, and Delaware-specific resource connections. Delaware Caregiver Resource Centers Network listed as key statewide resource.

    AARP membership not required for most resources — print guide available by calling 877-333-5885

    Delaware Attendant Services — Self-Directed Caregiver Pay

    Free

    Statewide

    Self-directed Medicaid waiver program allowing participants to hire family members as paid attendants. Includes Lifespan Waiver and Attendant Services Waiver. Income limit updated to $2,982/month effective January 2026.

    Must meet Medicaid eligibility — contact DSAAPD at 800-223-9074 to start eligibility process

    Delaware Assistance for Caregivers — Financial Support

    Free

    Statewide

    State-funded supplemental services for qualifying caregivers including respite care, adult day care at reduced or no cost, and other caregiver supports. Funded through state funds, Older Americans Act, and federal Social Services Block Grants.

    Primary caregiver must be unpaid — contact ADRC to determine eligibility

    VA Caregiver Stipend — PCAFC Program

    Free

    Statewide — Veterans only

    Monthly stipend for caregivers of eligible veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability. Also includes CHAMPVA health insurance. Delaware veterans access through Wilmington VA Medical Center.

    Must be caring for veteran with 70%+ service-connected disability rating

    National Family Caregiver Support Program — Delaware

    Free

    Statewide

    Federal program through DSAAPD providing information, counseling, training, respite, and supplemental services to family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's.

    Access through DSAAPD — call statewide ADRC number to be connected to local services

    Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley — Support Groups

    Free

    Statewide — in person and virtual

    Free caregiver support groups throughout Delaware in Wilmington and beyond. Trained facilitators lead groups via phone, video, or in person. ALZConnected free online community available 24/7.

    Call chapter or visit website to find Delaware groups by zip code — virtual options available

    Delaware Caregiver Support Groups — DSAAPD

    Free

    Statewide — all three counties

    Caregiver support groups throughout Delaware organized through DSAAPD. Groups available in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties for caregivers of older adults and adults with disabilities.

    Contact ADRC to find current groups in your county — schedule varies by location

    Caregiver Resource Centers — Peer Support

    Free

    Statewide

    Peer support and connection through Delaware's Caregiver Resource Centers network. Centers provide a welcoming space for caregivers to connect, share experiences, and find community.

    Contact ADRC to find your regional center — located throughout all three counties

    AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group

    Free

    National — available to all Delaware caregivers

    Free online peer community of 25,000+ caregivers active 24/7. Share experiences, practical tips, and emotional support. Valuable for Delaware's smaller population where local groups may be limited.

    AARP membership not required to join the Facebook group

    Frequently Asked Questions — Delaware Caregivers

    Honest answers to what Delaware family caregivers ask most.

    Most free caregiver help in Delaware flows through National Family Caregiver Support Program — Delaware, which works hand-in-hand with the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) and the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. Call 800-223-9074 to be connected to your county's AAA or Aging and Disability Resource Center — they provide free caregiver counseling, support groups, respite vouchers, and caregiver education statewide.

    In many cases, yes. The primary pathway is Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP Plus) Long-Term Services and Supports. DSHP Plus LTSS includes a self-direction option allowing eligible members to hire family (other than a spouse) as a paid attendant. The care recipient must meet Delaware Medicaid's financial and functional eligibility rules. To apply or confirm what's currently available, call 800-223-9074 and ask specifically about Medicaid self-direction or consumer-directed personal-care services.

    Free or low-cost respite in Delaware comes from three main places: (1) National Family Caregiver Support Program — Delaware and your local Area Agency on Aging, which can issue respite vouchers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program — call 800-223-9074; (2) the VA Caregiver Support Program (1-855-260-3274) for caregivers of enrolled veterans; and (3) the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org, which lists licensed Delaware respite providers by ZIP code.

    Delaware veteran caregivers can access two main VA programs. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) pays a monthly stipend of roughly $1,750–$3,200 for caregivers of post-9/11 and (now expanded) earlier-era veterans with a 70%+ service-connected disability who need help with daily activities. The Program of General Caregiver Support Services offers free training, peer mentoring, and REACH VA stress coaching for caregivers of any era veteran enrolled in VA healthcare. Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or visit caregiver.va.gov to apply.

    Yes. The Alzheimer's Association Delaware Chapter runs in-person and virtual support groups across the state and operates a free 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 in English and Spanish. Local Area Agencies on Aging also coordinate dementia-specific groups through Delaware's family caregiver support program — National Family Caregiver Support Program — Delaware can refer you. For broader caregiver support groups (not dementia-specific), the Family Caregiver Alliance and Well Spouse Association also serve Delaware families online.

    Community Legal Aid Society of Delaware is the main free civil legal aid resource for income-eligible Delaware residents. They can help with advance directives, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, guardianship questions, Medicare and Medicaid appeals, and consumer or housing problems facing aging adults. Delaware Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides separate free advocacy specifically for residents (and their families) in Delaware nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings. Many Delaware bar associations also run lawyer-referral services with reduced rates for caregivers and seniors.

    988 is the free, confidential 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available to anyone in the U.S., including Delaware family caregivers who feel overwhelmed, isolated, hopeless, or in emotional distress. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For non-crisis support — finding food, transportation, rent help, or caregiver respite — dial 211 to reach a Delaware-trained United Way navigator who can route you to local programs.

    Delaware's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network is the single point of entry for county-level caregiver services. Call 800-223-9074 and you'll be routed to the ADRC or AAA serving your county. They handle benefits screening, options counseling, and direct connections to counseling, respite, training, transportation, and financial-help programs. Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) oversees the network statewide and can also help if a local office is hard to reach.

    Save these Delaware resources to your free care plan

    Your care plan keeps every Delaware caregiver resource — phone numbers, eligibility, and next steps — in one calm, organized place.

    Always free — no credit card required.

    Source: LTCareNav.com research, updated on July 2026. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility rules change frequently — please verify contact information directly with each organization before referral. This page is informational and not legal, medical, or financial advice.