Alzheimer's Programs in Maryland: State and Federal Resources for Families

Maryland families dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia have access to a layered system of state, county, and federal programs — but no single agency gives you the full picture. The Maryland Department of Aging runs some programs, county Area Agencies on Aging run others, and federal benefits like VA Aid & Attendance operate on a completely separate track.

Here's a consolidated map of what exists, what each program actually provides, and how to access it.

Maryland Family Caregiver Support Program

This is the broadest state program for dementia caregivers. Administered by the Maryland Department of Aging through local Area Agencies on Aging, it serves adult family members caring for anyone aged 60 or older, or anyone diagnosed with Alzheimer's or a related dementia at any age.

What it provides:

• Information and referral. Help navigating community resources, support groups, and local respite providers
• Caregiver training. Evidence-based sessions on managing behavioral challenges, stress management, and physical transfer techniques
• Respite care grants. Short-term funding to give the primary caregiver a break — typically covering several days of in-home or adult day care per year
• Counseling and support groups. Individual and group sessions focused on caregiver stress, grief, and family conflict

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to access these services. There's no income test for the basic information and training components, though respite grants may be subject to availability.

Respite Care Ambassador Program

This statewide initiative trains advocates across the Departments of Aging, Health, and Disabilities to help families find and use regional respite vouchers. The ambassadors are specifically trained in the differences between Medicare-covered respite (limited to hospice enrollees), Medicaid waiver respite, and county-funded respite programs.

If you're not sure which respite program you qualify for, a Respite Care Ambassador can sort through the overlapping eligibility rules. Contact your AAA to connect with a local ambassador.

SOAR (Supporting Older Adults with Resources)

The SOAR program, consolidated statewide on July 1, 2026, fills the gap between Medicaid eligibility and private-pay affordability. It replaced the former Senior Care, Senior Assisted Living Subsidy (SALS), and Congregate Housing programs with a single standardized framework.

For Alzheimer's and dementia families specifically, SOAR provides:

• Assisted living subsidy: Up to $650/month for standard assisted living, up to $1,000/month for memory care at facilities with a county service agreement
• Case management and safety-related home repairs
• In-home care services for eligible seniors not yet in a facility

Eligibility: aged 62+, gross monthly income up to $4,358 (individual), countable assets up to $20,064. Apply through your county AAA.

Maryland Access Point (MAP)

MAP at 1-844-627-5465 is the state's "No Wrong Door" entry system. It's not a program itself — it's the intake gateway that routes you to the right programs based on your parent's situation.

For dementia families, a MAP call can:

• Schedule a free Level One screening to assess your parent's functional needs
• Place your parent on the Community Options Waiver waitlist for future Medicaid waiver coverage
• Connect you with Adult Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) for a comprehensive interRAI assessment
• Refer you to local caregiver support programs

Even if your parent doesn't need services today, a Level One Screening records current functional information in the LTSSMaryland system.

Cognitive Screening and Care Planning Tools

Maryland has invested in specific clinical tools for dementia identification and care planning:

AD:8 Dementia Assessment Tool. An 8-question validated screening tool used by MAP options counselors and local health departments. It helps families evaluate early cognitive changes and determines whether a formal medical evaluation is warranted. Available through MAP and county health departments.

Johns Hopkins Memory Care Family Checklist. Launched in January 2026 through a partnership between the Maryland Department of Aging and Johns Hopkins University, this clinical checklist helps caregivers identify specific home safety, medical, and emotional needs. It generates personalized recommendations and connects caregivers to local resources. Available through the Department of Aging's caregiver programs.

Longevity Ready Maryland Act

The state's multi-sector aging plan, Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM), sets the policy framework for aging services through 2030. For families dealing with dementia now, the relevant provisions include expanded adult day care capacity, workforce development for direct-care workers, and standardized county-level access to SOAR and caregiver support programs.

The practical impact: county-to-county variation in available services is slowly decreasing as the LRM framework pushes for standardization. But in 2026, service availability still varies significantly between well-funded counties like Montgomery and Howard versus rural counties on the Eastern Shore.

Medicaid Programs for Dementia Care

Maryland's Medicaid system offers several programs relevant to Alzheimer's care, each with different eligibility requirements and service scopes:

• Community Options Waiver (HCBOW): The only Medicaid program covering care services inside licensed assisted living. Income cap: $2,982/month. Countable asset limit: $2,000 or $2,500, depending on eligibility category. Has a multi-year waitlist.
• Community First Choice (CFC): Home-based supports including personal care, home modifications, and assistive technology. No waitlist. Medically Needy pathway requires $350/month income spend-down.
• Increased Community Services (ICS): For individuals over the HCBOW income cap who've been in a nursing facility for at least 6 months and been eligible for Medicaid for at least 30 consecutive days. No income cap — excess income goes toward care costs.
• CPAS: Community personal assistance for individuals needing help with at least one ADL.

Each program requires a different clinical level of care determination and has different financial thresholds. The Maryland Medicaid eligibility overview lays out the comparison.

VA Aid & Attendance

For wartime veterans and surviving spouses, the VA Aid & Attendance pension provides a tax-free monthly benefit to offset memory care or in-home care costs. The maximum monthly benefit is $2,424 for a single veteran and $1,558 for a surviving spouse (December 2025–November 2026 rates). Applied for using VA Form 21P-527EZ for veterans or 21P-534EZ for surviving spouses.

The VA's net worth limit of $163,699 and 36-month look-back period operate independently of Maryland Medicaid's 60-month look-back — the two systems don't coordinate.

Adult Day Care Programs

Maryland families commonly use two types of day programs relevant to dementia:

• Medical adult day care: Licensed facilities providing nursing services, therapeutic activities, and structured programming for individuals with cognitive impairment. Covered by Medicaid for eligible participants.
• Social adult day care: Focus on socialization, meals, and supervised activities. May not include nursing services. Often used as respite for working caregivers.

Both types offer structured environments during daytime hours, typically 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Costs for private-pay participants range from $75 to $150/day depending on the program and location.

How to Navigate the System

The most common mistake families make is trying to figure out which program applies to them by reading government websites. The fastest path is a single call to Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465. The options counselor will screen your parent's situation and route you to the relevant programs.

The Maryland Dementia & Memory Care Guide organizes these programs into a decision tree based on your parent's financial situation, clinical needs, and care setting — so you can see which programs you're eligible for and apply in the right sequence.

See more Maryland guides →