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 30 verified Oregon 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 Oregon
ADRC of Oregon — Aging and Disability Resource Connection
One call connects Oregon family caregivers to free counseling, respite, training, and support groups through their local Area Agency on Aging.
ADRC of Oregon — Aging and Disability Resource Connection
Free
Statewide — 16 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 36 counties
Oregon's single point of entry for caregivers. Free information, options counseling, and connection to all caregiver services statewide. Each AAA has a family caregiver coordinator. Call 855-ORE-ADRC anytime to connect to local services. State Plan on Aging 2023-2026 in effect.
855-ORE-ADRC (855-673-2372). No wrong door — connects to Family Caregiver Support Program, OPI-M, respite, Oregon Care Partners, and all local AAA services
Alzheimer's Association Oregon & SW Washington — 24/7 Helpline
Free
Statewide — Portland HQ serving all 36 Oregon counties and SW Washington
Around the clock emotional support, crisis assistance, and care consultations for dementia caregivers. Oregon/SW Washington Chapter serves all of Oregon. 75,000+ Oregonians living with Alzheimer's; 194,000 caregivers providing 232 million hours annually.
Chapter: 503-294-2113. Includes SW Washington — serves rural, coastal, and tribal communities statewide. Walk to End Alzheimer's in Portland, Eugene, and other cities
Oregon Department of Human Services caregiver support portal connecting to Oregon Care Partners training, ADRC options counseling, family caregiver coordinators, and the Oregon Family Caregiver Handbook. New OPI-M waiver expanding caregiver supports statewide.
Free resources and training — Oregon is a national model for caregiver support through OPI-M 1115 waiver implemented 2024-2025
Free 24/7 confidential emotional support for caregivers experiencing burnout, distress, or crisis. Available by call or text. Oregon has high caregiver stress rates particularly in rural coastal and Eastern Oregon communities.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — call or text
Free connection to local health and human services including emotional support, crisis intervention, and caregiver resource referrals across all 36 Oregon counties. Available by phone, text, chat, and online.
Call or text 211 anytime — also visit 211info.org. Oregon 211 is operated by 211info, a nonprofit serving Oregon and SW Washington
NFCSP-funded temporary respite care for family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's through Oregon's 16 AAAs. In-home and adult day options. Each AAA has a family caregiver coordinator who arranges appropriate respite.
Contact ADRC at 855-673-2372 to be connected to your local AAA family caregiver coordinator for available respite services
Oregon's landmark 2024 Medicaid 1115 waiver extending caregiver supports to families with income up to 400% FPL. Provides paid wellness services, group activities, peer support, and facilitated support groups for unpaid caregivers. Nationally recognized model.
Income up to 400% FPL — much broader than standard Medicaid. Oregon is a nationally recognized model per NASHP 2024. Contact ADRC at 855-673-2372
Statewide lifespan respite coordination for Oregon caregivers of any age with any disability. In-home respite, adult day services, and facility-based overnight respite available through AAA network. Caregiver coordinators arrange the right respite type.
Contact ADRC — each AAA has a family caregiver coordinator who personalizes the respite plan for each caregiver's situation
At least 30 days annual respite for caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Portland VA, Roseburg VA, White City VA, and community clinics serve Oregon veterans.
Must be caring for veteran enrolled in VA healthcare — Portland VAMC: 503-220-8262 | Roseburg VA: 541-440-1000
Oregon Care Partners — Free Statewide Caregiver Training
Free
Statewide — online and in-person across all 36 counties
State-funded free caregiver training for anyone living or working in Oregon. Online self-paced courses (1 hour each) and in-person classes statewide on dementia care, challenging behaviors, personal care skills, and caregiver self-care. Available in English and Spanish. State-funded since 2013.
Free to all Oregon caregivers — online or in-person. One of the most comprehensive state-funded caregiver training programs in the country. Register at oregoncarepartners.com
Alzheimer's Association Oregon — Education Programs
Free
Statewide — in person and virtual
Free education programs for dementia caregivers across all 36 Oregon counties. ALZ Talks webinars, Savvy Caregiver workshops, care consultations. Partners with Oregon Care Partners on statewide dementia education.
Virtual options available statewide — call helpline or visit chapter website for current Oregon schedule
Statewide — OSU Extension offices in all 36 counties
Evidence-based caregiver education through Oregon State University Extension. Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshops, aging-in-place resources, and family caregiver programs statewide including rural coastal and Eastern Oregon communities.
OSU Extension in every Oregon county — reaching rural and coastal communities where other resources may be limited
Free caregiver training available through Oregon's OPI-M 1115 waiver. Covers stress reduction, complex behaviors, and culturally specific caregiving. Provided through Oregon Care Partners and AAA network. No charge to caregivers.
Free — part of Oregon's nationally recognized OPI-M model. Access through ADRC at 855-673-2372 or Oregon Care Partners at oregoncarepartners.com
Comprehensive caregiver education library including fact sheets, online programs, and Oregon-specific resource directory. Especially valuable for rural and coastal Oregon caregivers with limited local options.
No registration required for most online resources
Free caregiver tools, guides, and education. AARP Oregon reports 681,000+ family caregivers providing $9.7 billion in unpaid care annually. AARP Oregon active on Paid Family and Medical Leave implementation and expanded caregiver supports.
AARP membership not required — AARP Oregon guides available for navigating Oregon Paid Leave and OPI-M programs
Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave — Up to 12 Weeks
Free
Statewide — employed Oregon workers
Up to 12 weeks paid leave at 60% of wages (up to $1,523.63/week in 2026) for Oregon workers caring for a seriously ill family member. Benefits launched September 2023. Funded through employer and employee payroll contributions.
Most Oregon employees covered — contact Oregon Paid Leave at 833-854-0166. Self-employed may opt in. Benefits portal at paidleave.oregon.gov
Oregon K Plan / K-OAR — Medicaid HCBS Paid Caregiver
Free
Statewide
Oregon's Medicaid HCBS programs (K Plan for adults with physical disabilities; K-OAR for older adults) allow family members to be paid as personal care providers through consumer direction. Excludes spouses in most cases. Income limit $2,982/month in 2026.
Must be Medicaid-eligible — contact ADRC at 855-673-2372 to begin eligibility screening. Consumer direction option provides most flexibility for choosing family caregiver
Oregon's 1115 waiver provides paid wellness services and community caregiver supports to unpaid family caregivers with income up to 400% FPL — covering many working families who don't qualify for traditional Medicaid. National model for expanding caregiver access.
No Medicaid required for many services — up to 400% FPL. Contact ADRC at 855-673-2372. Oregon's OPI-M highlighted by NASHP as leading national model in 2024
Monthly stipend for caregivers of eligible veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability. Also includes CHAMPVA health insurance. VA legacy cohort protected through September 2028.
Must be caring for veteran with 70%+ service-connected disability rating
National Family Caregiver Support Program — Oregon
Free
Statewide — through 16 Area Agencies on Aging
Federal program providing information, counseling, training, respite, and supplemental services to family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's. Grandparent kinship caregiver services also available. Tribal elder programs serve 9 federally recognized Oregon tribes.
Contact ADRC — 9 federally recognized Oregon tribes receive Title VI funding; tribal elder caregiver programs operate alongside AAA services
Free caregiver support groups throughout Oregon from Portland to Eugene to Medford to Bend. Virtual groups essential for rural, coastal, and Eastern Oregon caregivers. ALZConnected online community available 24/7.
Call helpline or visit chapter website to find group by zip code — virtual options bridge Oregon's geographic diversity
Caregiver support groups through Oregon's 16 AAAs covering all 36 counties. Each AAA has a family caregiver coordinator who facilitates groups for general caregiving and dementia caregivers. Contact ADRC to find groups near you.
Contact ADRC at 855-673-2372 — family caregiver coordinator in each AAA connects caregivers to local support groups
Peer support services for unpaid family caregivers through Oregon's OPI-M program. Group-based activities and facilitated peer support groups available statewide through AAA network. Part of Oregon's nationally recognized caregiver support model.
Free — peer support available through OPI-M for caregivers with income up to 400% FPL. Contact ADRC at 855-673-2372
Free online peer community of 25,000+ caregivers active 24/7. Especially valuable for Oregon caregivers in rural coastal, Eastern Oregon, or other areas where local in-person groups are not available.
AARP membership not required — virtual peer support 24/7
Statewide — offices in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, and other communities
Free civil legal services to low-income Oregonians including elder law, advance directives, powers of attorney, Oregon Health Plan, housing, and consumer protection. Elder law priority for adults 60+. Also partners with Oregon Law Help for online resources.
Toll-free intake: 888-610-8764. Adults 60+ receive priority for elder law matters. Also visit oregonlawhelp.org for online legal information statewide at no cost to you
Oregon SHIBA — Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance
Free
Statewide — Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
Oregon's SHIP program (called SHIBA). Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Oregon beneficiaries and caregivers through trained volunteers statewide. Helps navigate Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D. Confidential and unbiased.
Unbiased — not affiliated with insurance industry. SHIBA volunteers in all 36 counties. Also accessible through ADRC at 855-673-2372
Free advocacy for caregivers with concerns about nursing home, assisted living, residential care, or adult foster care quality. Independent state agency. Investigates complaints and protects residents' rights across all 36 Oregon counties.
Toll-free statewide 800-522-2602 — independent of ODHS. Oregon Ombudsman covers adult foster homes, a uniquely Oregon residential care model
Free legal advocacy for Oregonians with disabilities and their caregivers. Oregon's federally designated Protection and Advocacy agency. Covers disability rights, Oregon Health Plan, housing, employment, and abuse/neglect investigations.
Toll-free: 800-452-1694. Free services for people with disabilities and their family caregivers — all 36 Oregon counties including tribal communities
Free online legal information and connection to legal aid organizations across all 36 Oregon counties. Joint project of Oregon State Bar, Oregon Judicial Department, Legal Aid Services, and Oregon Law Center. Covers elder law, advance directives, and Oregon Health Plan.
Free 24/7 online access — maintained by major Oregon legal organizations. Also available in Spanish. Find local legal help at oregonlawhelp.org
Honest answers to what Oregon family caregivers ask most.
Most free caregiver help in Oregon flows through ADRC of Oregon — Aging and Disability Resource Connection, which works hand-in-hand with the Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) and the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. Call 855-673-2372 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. Oregon also runs Oregon Project Independence — state-funded in-home services for non-Medicaid seniors, which is worth asking about by name.
In many cases, yes. The primary pathway is Community First Choice (K Plan) and Oregon Project Independence. Oregon's K Plan / CFC option lets Oregon Health Plan members hire family — and, uniquely, in many cases a spouse — as paid Homecare Workers through the Oregon Home Care Commission. The care recipient must meet Oregon Medicaid's financial and functional eligibility rules. To apply or confirm what's currently available, call 855-673-2372 and ask specifically about Medicaid self-direction or consumer-directed personal-care services.
Free or low-cost respite in Oregon comes from three main places: (1) ADRC of Oregon — Aging and Disability Resource Connection and your local Area Agency on Aging, which can issue respite vouchers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program — call 855-673-2372; (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 Oregon respite providers by ZIP code.
Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon's family caregiver support program — ADRC of Oregon — Aging and Disability Resource Connection can refer you. For broader caregiver support groups (not dementia-specific), the Family Caregiver Alliance and Well Spouse Association also serve Oregon families online.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon / Oregon Law Center is the main free civil legal aid resource for income-eligible Oregon 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. Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides separate free advocacy specifically for residents (and their families) in Oregon nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings. Many Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon-trained United Way navigator who can route you to local programs.
Oregon'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 855-673-2372 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. Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) oversees the network statewide and can also help if a local office is hard to reach.
Save these Oregon resources to your free care plan
Your care plan keeps every Oregon caregiver resource — phone numbers, eligibility, and next steps — in one calm, organized place.
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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.