Caregiver Support and Respite Opportunities

The National Family Caregivers Support Program and County In-Home Services Program offer small respite grants to families who are caring for an aging family member. The grant is used to offset the cost associated with hiring a caregiver of the family's choosing to provide a short break in caring for their loved one. Grants are also available for seniors caring for a grandchild less than 18 years of age and for a parent caring for an adult child with a disability 18 years of age or older. Please note: Grants are one-time-only awards, rather than monthly or yearly awards, and the amount of the award is contingent upon availability of funds.

Caregiver Support Events

Annual Caregivers' Breakfast

The Caregivers' Breakfast is for anyone who serves as a caregiver either in a clinical setting or as an individual. Caregivers may be a spouse or adult child helping to take care of someone or might be a family member who, while not having any direct role in care, would benefit from information and sharing with others. The Caregivers' Breakfast is an opportunity to come and talk with individuals who share similar issues while enjoying a free breakfast and learning from an inspirational speaker. The breakfast traditionally takes places in November.

To attend or become a sponsor for this breakfast, contact St. Mary's County Department of Aging & Human Services by calling 301-475-4200, ext. 1061.

Caregivers' Conference

The Annual Southern Maryland Caregivers' Conference is traditionally held in May. Designed for the family caregiver, this one-day event is a wonderful opportunity to enrich one's knowledge and skills in caring for an aging individual or for someone with disability in the community. The conference fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, conference materials, exposure to service providers in the exhibition area, and the opportunity to attend professionally presented educational sessions on caregiving-related topics.

The conference is sponsored by St. Mary's County Department of Aging, Calvert County Office on Aging, Charles County Community Services, and the Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore. For additional information, or to receive a registration brochure by mail, please contact Rebecca Kessler at 301-475-4200, ext. 1061, or by email at Rebecca.Kessler@stmarysmd.com. Registration brochures may also be picked up at any St. Mary's County Department of Aging & Human Services facility.

To inquire about a Scholarship opportunity or to attend this conference, contact St. Mary's County Department of Aging & Human Services by calling 301-475-4200, ext. 1061.

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