Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center (Family Caregiver Alliance)
Assessment, counseling, legal consultation and short-term respite for family caregivers of adults with brain impairment.
A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.
UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.
What to know
- Why it may fit
- Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
- What to do next
- Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) helps family caregivers of an adult with a brain condition. Examples are dementia, stroke, Parkinson's, and ALS. The condition must have started in adulthood. It offers a caregiver check-in, counseling, legal advice, and support groups. It may also help pay for short breaks, called respite. Services are free or low cost.
- Who runs it
- Family Caregiver Alliance, the state-funded Caregiver Resource Center for Santa Clara County
What the program may consider
- You are an unpaid family caregiver of an adult
- You care for someone with adult-onset brain impairment such as dementia, stroke, Parkinson's or ALS
- Caregiver assessment and current respite availability
How to get it
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) helps family caregivers of an adult with a brain condition. Examples are dementia, stroke, Parkinson's, and ALS. The condition must have started in adulthood. It offers a caregiver check-in, counseling, legal advice, and support groups. It may also help pay for short breaks, called respite. Services are free or low cost.
How to apply
- PhoneFamily Caregiver Alliance (FCA): (415) 434-3388 or 1-800-445-8106
- EmailFamily Caregiver Alliance email: info@caregiver.org
- Online formFCA CareNav sign-upMake your own account and answer a few questions. FCA staff then follow up.
- FaxFCA referral fax for helpers: (415) 434-3508Helpers fax the permission form you signed.
Getting help
Someone can refer you, with your permission
You can call or email FCA yourself, or sign up online. A helper can also refer you. First you sign a short permission form. It lets the helper give FCA your contact details. Then FCA calls you.
What happens after you apply
Call or email FCA yourself. Or sign up on FCA CareNav with your own account, and answer a few questions.
If you contact FCA yourself
YouA helper can help with this
Sign FCA's permission form. The helper faxes it to FCA.
Only if a helper refers you
YouA helper can help with this
FCA staff call you. They talk about your situation and share resources.
The program or providerOnly you can do thisFCA does not say how soon it calls.
An FCA family consultant does a full caregiver check-in with you by phone or video. Then you make a care plan together.
The program or providerOnly you can do this
FCA decides what help you can get, such as respite, counseling, or legal advice. Respite is not promised.
The program or provider
Pick a respite option: a helper at home, an adult day program, or a short stay. FCA helps pay. You may pay part of the cost.
Only if FCA approves respite
YouA helper can help with this
The respite provider gives the first hours of care, so you get a break.
Only if FCA approves respite
The program or providerOnly you can do this
What only you can do
- Sign the permission form if a helper refers you. Or contact FCA yourself.
- Take part in the caregiver check-in and care planning with FCA.
- Choose the respite option and schedule it.
- Stay in touch with your FCA family consultant.
- How long it takes
- FCA does not publish how long this takes. Help paying for respite depends on funding.
- You are enrolled when
- You are enrolled when FCA has done your check-in and approved respite help. A provider must also have given your first hours of care.
- To keep it
- FCA can keep helping as long as you need it. Stay in touch with your family consultant. FCA does not publish respite limits or how often it checks in again.