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 29 verified Utah 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 Utah
Utah DAAS — Division of Aging and Adult Services
One call connects Utah family caregivers to free counseling, respite, training, and support groups through their local Area Agency on Aging.
Utah DAAS — Division of Aging and Adult Services
Free
Statewide — 12 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 29 Utah counties
Utah's primary caregiver entry point. Free information, referrals, and connection to all caregiver services through 12 AAAs. Utah Caregiver Support Program administered through DAAS provides counseling, education, respite, and supplemental services to all Utah caregivers regardless of income.
Call 877-424-4640 to reach your local AAA. No income requirement for Utah Caregiver Support Program — available to all unpaid caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's or disability
Alzheimer's Association Utah Chapter — 24/7 Helpline
Free
Statewide — Cottonwood Heights HQ serving all 29 Utah counties
Around the clock emotional support, crisis assistance, and care consultations for dementia caregivers. Utah Chapter serves all 29 counties from Cottonwood Heights office. 38,300+ Utahns living with Alzheimer's; 115,000 caregivers providing 137 million hours annually.
Utah Chapter: 801-265-1944 | info@alz.org/utah. Also: Alzheimer's Utah (www.alz.org/utah) is a separate Salt Lake City nonprofit offering local programs and caregiver support
Statewide — Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Utah's unique statewide dementia caregiver resource portal with care consultations, education programs, support group locator, respite information, and adult day services directory. Self-refer for care consultations at no cost to you — no provider referral needed. Launched by DHHS with AAA partners.
Self-refer at dementia.utah.gov — no provider referral required for care consultations at no cost to you. Unique Utah resource — one of the most comprehensive state dementia caregiver portals in the country
Free 24/7 connection to local health and human services including emotional support, crisis intervention, and caregiver resource referrals across all 29 Utah counties.
Call or text 211 anytime — also available online at 211ut.org. Available in English and Spanish
Free in-home respite services for unpaid family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's or disability. No income or asset requirement. Up to $1,500 in respite services for a 12-month period through local AAAs. Home visit required before services begin.
No income limit — available to all unpaid caregivers. Contact local AAA at 877-424-4640. Waiting period may apply due to funding limits. Donations encouraged but not required
Dementia-specific respite options for Utah caregivers through the DHHS dementia caregiver portal. Adult day services, in-home respite, and overnight respite options available statewide. Portal lists all AAA-funded and community respite options by region.
Visit dementia.utah.gov to find respite options near you or contact local AAA at 877-424-4640
Utah Home and Community Based Alternatives — Family Caregiver Respite
Free
Statewide — non-Medicaid state program
Utah's non-Medicaid state program providing personal care and respite for low-income adults needing in-home services. Family members (excluding spouses) may be hired as paid caregivers providing meaningful financial support while delivering care.
Income-based eligibility — contact DAAS at 877-424-4640 or local AAA. Family members excluding spouses can be paid caregivers through this non-Medicaid program
At least 30 days annual respite for caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and community clinics serve Utah veterans.
Must be caring for veteran enrolled in VA healthcare — Salt Lake City VAMC: 801-582-1565
Free education programs for dementia caregivers across all 29 Utah counties. ALZ Talks webinars, Savvy Caregiver workshops, care consultations. Utah Chapter partners with DHHS dementia portal on statewide education. Walk to End Alzheimer's held in Salt Lake City and other Utah cities.
Virtual options available statewide — call helpline or visit chapter website for current Utah schedule
Free dementia caregiver education through Utah's DHHS dementia portal. Self-referral care consultations, online education resources, and in-person classes through AAA partners statewide. Updated regularly with current Utah programs and resources.
Self-refer at dementia.utah.gov — no provider referral needed. Unique Utah portal integrates care consultations, education, and resource locator in one place
Statewide — Utah State University Extension offices in all 29 counties
Evidence-based caregiver education through Utah State University Extension. Powerful Tools for Caregivers, aging resources, and family caregiver programs available in all Utah counties including rural and rural urban fringe communities.
USU Extension in every Utah county — reaching rural caregivers across Cache Valley, Uintah Basin, and southern Utah communities
Unique Salt Lake City nonprofit (separate from ALZ Association) providing free caregiver resources, education, and support since 1982. Community-based programs, caregiver education, and connection to local dementia care resources. Partners with University of Utah Health.
Free programs — local Utah nonprofit focused on Salt Lake City metro with virtual reach statewide. Partners with University of Utah Health dementia care programs
Comprehensive caregiver education library including fact sheets, online programs, and Utah-specific resource directory. Especially valuable for rural Utah caregivers in Uintah Basin, southeastern Utah, or other areas with limited local options.
No registration required for most online resources
Free caregiver tools, guides, and education. AARP Utah reports 115,000+ family caregivers providing 137 million hours annually. AARP Care Guide available. Homecare and Hospice Association of Utah Family Caregiver Program (801-312-9110) offers free membership with resources.
AARP membership not required — also note Homecare & Hospice Association of Utah (hhau.org) offers free family caregiver membership with peer support and webinars at 801-312-9110
Utah Medicaid Personal Care — Consumer-Directed Paid Family Caregiver
Free
Statewide
Utah Medicaid state plan option allowing eligible individuals to consumer-direct their personal care and hire family members as paid caregivers. Adult children and relatives eligible — spouses generally not eligible. Must be Medicaid-eligible with functional need for personal care.
Must be Medicaid-eligible — contact Utah Medicaid at 801-538-6155 or DAAS at 877-424-4640 to begin eligibility screening. Consumer direction gives flexibility to hire qualified family member
Utah Home and Community Based Alternatives — Paid Family Caregiver
Free
Statewide — non-Medicaid state program
Utah's non-Medicaid state program allowing family members (excluding spouses) to be hired as paid personal care providers for low-income adults needing home-based services. Fills gap for Utahns above Medicaid income limits who need support.
Non-Medicaid — family members excluding spouses eligible as paid caregivers. Contact DAAS at 877-424-4640 or local AAA. Income and functional eligibility required
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
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. No income requirement in Utah.
No income requirement — contact local AAA at 877-424-4640. Utah's NFCSP includes supplemental services like assistive technology, emergency response systems, and grab bars
Free caregiver support groups throughout Utah from Salt Lake City to St. George to Logan to Provo. Virtual groups available statewide. ALZConnected online community 24/7.
Call helpline or visit chapter website to find group by zip code — virtual options available for rural Utah caregivers
Caregiver support groups through Utah's 12 AAAs covering all 29 counties. Groups for general caregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia, and grandparent kinship caregivers. Contact your local AAA to find groups near you.
Contact local AAA at 877-424-4640 — groups vary by region across Utah's 12 AAA service areas
Utah's DHHS dementia portal includes a searchable support group locator for dementia caregivers statewide. Find in-person and virtual groups by county. Unique Utah resource integrating support group search with other caregiver services.
Search at dementia.utah.gov — updated regularly with current Utah support group listings by county
Free online peer community of 25,000+ caregivers active 24/7. Especially valuable for Utah caregivers in rural southern Utah, Uintah Basin, or other communities where local groups may be limited.
AARP membership not required — virtual peer support 24/7
Statewide — offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, and other communities
Free civil legal services to low-income Utahns and adults 60+ including elder law, advance directives, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, housing, and consumer protection. Elder law services available statewide.
Toll-free: 800-662-4245. Adults 60+ receive priority for elder law matters. Also visit utahlawhelp.org for online legal resources at no cost to you, statewide
Utah SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Free
Statewide — through DAAS and 12 AAAs
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Utah beneficiaries and caregivers. Certified SHIP counselors help navigate Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D drug plans statewide. Integrated into DAAS and AAA network — same call reaches SHIP and caregiver support.
Unbiased — not affiliated with insurance industry. Same 877-424-4640 connects to SHIP through your local AAA. Also: Utah Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) combats Medicare fraud
Free advocacy for caregivers with concerns about nursing home, assisted living, or other long-term care facility quality. Investigates complaints and protects residents' rights across all 29 Utah counties.
Statewide: 801-538-3910 | Rural: 800-371-7897. Also contact your local AAA — regional ombudsmen serve all Utah counties
Free legal advocacy for Utahns with disabilities and their caregivers. Utah's federally designated Protection and Advocacy agency. Covers disability rights, Medicaid, housing, and abuse/neglect investigations.
Toll-free: 800-662-9080. Free services for people with disabilities and their family caregivers — all 29 Utah counties
Connects Utah caregivers to elder law attorneys for advance directives, powers of attorney, guardianship, and Medicaid planning. Initial consultation available at reduced fee.
Referral fee may apply — income-eligible Utahns should contact Utah Legal Services first at 800-662-4245 for services at no cost to you
Honest answers to what Utah family caregivers ask most.
Most free caregiver help in Utah flows through Utah DAAS — Division of Aging and Adult Services, which works hand-in-hand with the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) and the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. Call 877-424-4640 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 Utah Aging Waiver and New Choices Waiver. Utah's Aging Waiver self-direction option lets Medicaid members hire family (other than a spouse) as paid in-home caregivers. The care recipient must meet Utah Medicaid's financial and functional eligibility rules. To apply or confirm what's currently available, call 877-424-4640 and ask specifically about Medicaid self-direction or consumer-directed personal-care services.
Free or low-cost respite in Utah comes from three main places: (1) Utah DAAS — Division of Aging and Adult Services and your local Area Agency on Aging, which can issue respite vouchers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program — call 877-424-4640; (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 Utah respite providers by ZIP code.
Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah's family caregiver support program — Utah DAAS — Division of Aging and Adult Services can refer you. For broader caregiver support groups (not dementia-specific), the Family Caregiver Alliance and Well Spouse Association also serve Utah families online.
Utah Legal Services / Disability Law Center is the main free civil legal aid resource for income-eligible Utah 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. Utah Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides separate free advocacy specifically for residents (and their families) in Utah nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings. Many Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah-trained United Way navigator who can route you to local programs.
Utah'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 877-424-4640 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. Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) oversees the network statewide and can also help if a local office is hard to reach.
Your care plan keeps every Utah 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.