Project CARE Dementia Respite North Carolina: Vouchers, Consultants, and How to Apply

If you are providing daily care for a parent with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia in North Carolina, there is a state-funded program designed specifically for you — not for the person with dementia, but for you, the caregiver. Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty) provides respite vouchers, a dedicated family consultant, and connections to dementia-specific education and support networks. Most families managing a dementia diagnosis at home never hear about it.

What Project C.A.R.E. Provides

Project C.A.R.E. is a state-funded program administered by the Division of Aging and Adult Services through regional host agencies and community partners, working with Area Agencies on Aging and the Family Caregiver Support Program. The program's core components:

Respite vouchers. Eligible caregivers may receive up to three vouchers of $500 each during a state fiscal year — up to $1,500 total when all three are available — to pay for eligible temporary relief care. Voucher availability and allowable uses are subject to program rules and funding.

A dedicated family consultant. Project C.A.R.E. assigns a trained consultant who works one-on-one with your family. The consultant helps you understand the progression of the disease, identify community resources, develop a care plan, and navigate the emotional weight of caregiving for someone whose cognition is declining. This is not a hotline — it is an ongoing relationship with someone who knows your situation.

Dementia education programs. The program connects caregivers with structured training on managing dementia-specific behaviors: sundowning, aggression, wandering, repetitive questioning, and resistance to personal care. These are the daily challenges that exhaust caregivers fastest, and generic caregiver training rarely addresses them in enough depth.

Support group connections. Project C.A.R.E. links caregivers to local and virtual support groups specifically for dementia families. Peer support from people who understand the particular grief of watching a parent lose cognitive function is different from general caregiver support — and research consistently shows it reduces burnout and delays the decision to pursue institutional placement.

Who Qualifies

Project C.A.R.E. eligibility is simpler than most state programs:

• The care recipient must have a diagnosed dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or other documented cognitive disorder)
• The caregiver must be an unpaid family member or informal caregiver providing regular, ongoing care
• No Medicaid enrollment required — Project C.A.R.E. is not a Medicaid program, but program eligibility, financial-need criteria for vouchers, available funds, and local capacity determine access
• Care-recipient age and other requirements — the program focuses on caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias; confirm the current requirements with the program partner serving your area

DAAS delivers the program through regional host agencies and community partners serving all 100 counties. Contact the program partner or your AAA for local availability; capacity and voucher funds can vary, and a waiting period may apply.

How to Apply

Contact your regional Area Agency on Aging and ask for the Project C.A.R.E. coordinator. You can find your AAA by calling the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services at 919-855-3400 or searching by ZIP code at eldercare.acl.gov.

The application process typically involves:

1. An intake call with the AAA's caregiver services unit
2. Documentation of the care recipient's dementia diagnosis (a physician's statement or medical record)
3. A brief assessment of the caregiver's needs and current support network
4. Assignment of a family consultant, who then helps you access the respite vouchers and other program resources

How Project C.A.R.E. Fits the Broader Picture

Respite vouchers provide temporary relief, but they are not a daily care solution. If your parent needs ongoing personal care assistance — help with bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility every day — you will likely need Medicaid PCS, the CAP/DA waiver, or private-pay home care running alongside Project C.A.R.E.

The Aging in Place in North Carolina guide maps out how to combine Project C.A.R.E. respite with Medicaid-funded daily care, so the program's $1,500 in annual vouchers extends your capacity while the longer-term services carry the daily load.

See more North Carolina guides →