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.
This year’s Caregivers’ Breakfast is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center in Leonardtown, MD.
Registration is required for this event. The registration deadline is Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
To attend or become a sponsor for this breakfast, contact Program Coordinator Lisa Berry at 301-475-4200, ext. 1056, or email [email protected].
St. Mary's County Caregivers' Support Group
The St. Mary’s County Caregivers’ Support Group meets at the Garvey Senior Activity Center on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.
The St. Mary’s County Caregivers’ Support Group is designed to be a safe space for caregivers to share their experiences and learn about resources. This group is open to caregivers of all types, including those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia, diagnosed with Parkinsons, recovering from a stroke, or experiencing other physical, cognitive, or mental challenges.
For more information, call 301-475-4200, ext. 1057, or email [email protected].
Caregivers' Conference
The Annual Southern Maryland Caregivers' Conference is traditionally held in Spring and alternates between St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert Counties.
This year’s Southern Maryland Caregivers Conference will be held hosted by the Calvert County Office on Aging on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Southern Pines Senior Center (20 Appeal Lane, Lusby, MD).
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 & Human Services, Calvert County Office on Aging, and the Charles County Community Services, Aging & Human Services Division. . For additional information about the 2025 Caregivers Conference, contact Lisa Caudle, Long-Term Care Manager with the Calvert County Office on Aging, at 410-535-4606.