Caregiver Support
Milwaukee County Caregiver Support Program
Are you a family caregiver? If you are a relative, partner, spouse, or friend helping a loved one with daily tasks to keep them safe, comfortable, and happy, then you are a caregiver.
The Milwaukee County Caregiver Support Program provides support services, education, and advocacy to promote the health and well-being of caregivers as they provide crucial support to others.
Caregiver Support Program Services
Information and Assistance
Caregivers are provided with connections to resources by either a phone consultation or home visit by a member of the Caregiver Support Team.
Caregiver Collaborative
Events are held throughout the year providing an opportunity to join other family caregivers to share experiences, exchange strategies, build collaborative relationships, and inform caregiver policies and supports in Milwaukee County.
Powerful Tools
A six-week class for caregivers to help reduce stress, improve self-confidence, manage time, make tough decisions and find local resources. This class is offered in person, virtually and in English and Spanish.
Community Education and Outreach
Financial Support
Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program
This program supports caregivers as they care for their loved ones with dementia. Supportive services provided to caregivers include community resources, self-care resources and grant funding. Grant funds can be used to provide temporary caregiver respite care and purchase goods and services needed to help care for someone with irreversible dementia.
Programming requirements:
- Informal caregivers caring for a person of any age with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia.
- Resides in a community or home setting
- Not enrolled in a Medicaid long-term care program
National Family Caregiver Support Program
This program supports family caregivers as they support loved ones. Supportive resources include community resources, self-care resources and grant funding. Grant funds can be used for support such as training, home modifications, self-care resources, and respite.
Programming requirements:
- Informal caregivers caring for a person aged 60 who needs help with daily living
- Informal caregivers caring for person of any age with dementia who is not enrolled in a Medicaid long-term care program or residing in a care facility.
- Grandparents and older relatives aged 55 or older who are primary caregivers for minor children or adult with a disability.
Caregiver Support Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter that provides caregivers articles, community resources and upcoming events.
Contact Caregiver Support
To learn more about the Caregiver Support Program, call (414) 289-6874 or fill out the following form.
Your Information:
Preferred Contact Method:
Information of Person You Are Caring For:
What type of services are you seeking?
Caregiver Learning Center
Watch our Webinar
Advocating for Caregivers and Individuals Living with Dementia
- Learn how to advocate for supportive policies
- Get updates on the Wisconsin State Dementia Plan
- Connect to useful resources
- Hear from guest speakers about their work, including State Senator LaTonya Johnson about her experience effectuating legislative change to support caregivers.
On-Demand Learning
Free, on-demand support is available to Wisconsin caregivers through Trualta - an online platform that provides caregivers with relevant educational content, practical tutorials, and a dependable online community where caregivers can join discussion forums, gain insight from support groups, and ask real questions of industry professionals.
Caregiver FAQs
Caregiver Program Frequently Asked Questions
What is respite?
Respite is a break that a caregiver takes from caregiving. It can be a formal provider or loved ones that come into the home to give the caregiver a temporary break from caregiving.
What are the grant amounts available through Milwaukee County Caregiver Support Program?
Grants up to $4000 can be provided to family caregivers. The grant mount is determined when a member of the Caregiver Support Program Team sets up a home visit with the caregiver and their loved one for an assessment. Grant amounts are also determined by the amount of funding each program receives. Only a limited amount of funds are available each year.
How is grant use determined?
Grant usage is determined by the caregiver when they meet with a member of the Caregiver Support Team and discuss how they can best be supported.
Will I receive a grant when I apply for the program?
The Caregiver Support Program attempts to provide grant funding in a timely manner. Grant funding is limited and at times there are waitlists for grants due to limited funding in both programs.
What are the funding sources for the programs?
The Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program is funded by the State of Wisconsin through General Purpose Revenue.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program is funded federally through the Older Americans Act.
What if I am placed on a waitlist or ineligible for a grant?
Caregivers are provided resources and referrals to services available through Milwaukee County and other community partners. Caregivers are provided with information regarding support groups, community events and educational programs offered in-person and virtually.
Are these programs able to pay me to care for my loved one if I am no longer employed outside of the home?
No, the grants are temporary funding provided to caregivers and must be used within the same year they are approved.
Caregiver Resources
Additional Caregiver Resources
Advanced Planning
An advance directive describes, in writing, treatments you want or don’t want. It tells others what to do with your care if you get injured and can’t express your wishes. You can complete an advance directive if you are 18 or older and of sound mind. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has advance directive forms online.
GWAAR Guardianship Support Center
Get information and assistance on issues related to adult guardianship, protective placement, advance directives, and more from the Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center (GSC).
Agencies & Resources
Find the right senior services in Wisconsin near you.
211 is a free and confidential service that connects you with thousands of local programs and services.
Caregiver Training & Learning
Download or request a print copy of Family Caregiving Guides designed to help you navigate caregiving.
Access a wide range of caregiver resources, including caregiving tips, information and encouragement about taking care of yourself as a caregiver, connections to community organizations and agencies, and overviews of health conditions.
National Institute on Aging Caregiver’s Handbook
This guide is for anyone who provides care for family members or friends who need help with daily living. It focuses on the needs of older adults who require care because of a serious health condition or disability, but it could also apply to other situations in which caregiving is needed.
This caregiver class series provides you with tools and strategies to better handle the unique challenges you face as a care partner. Classes meet once a week for six weeks, in-person or virtually.
Diagnosis-Specific Support
ALS: ALS Association
Alzheimer's: Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter
Cancer: American Cancer Society
Diabetes: American Diabetes Association
Parkinson's: Wisconsin Parkinson Association
Emergency Preparedness
Create and practice an emergency plan to help you know what to do in a crisis.
Employed Family Caregivers and Employers
Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance
Encourages employers to build a caregiver friendly culture within their workplace, attract and retain family caregivers, and connect their employees who have family caregiving responsibilities with critical community resources.
Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Family Medical Leave is a benefit available by state law to certain employees. The FMLA provides unpaid leave for an employee's serious health condition, the serious health condition of a parent, child or spouse, or for the birth or adoption of a child.
Get information about caregivers’ legal rights to take time off work and to be free from harassment and discrimination.
Helpline: (415) 703-8276 or [email protected]
Grief Support
Eligibility requirements, application process, and program information for the Milwaukee County Burial Assistance Program.
A Death Cafe is a place for people of all ages to discuss issues of death and dying. Find Death Cafe events near Milwaukee.
Wisconsin’s only walk-in grief counseling center dedicated to grief, bereavement and healing.
Self-Care
A 24/7 lifeline for older adults and caregivers feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or alone.
Daily wellness checks for older adults - call in daily to a designated call-in line or receive a daily call from a trained volunteer or staff member to check on your safety and well-being.
Use your experience to make a positive difference in the lives of others. As a Senior Companion volunteer, you’ll help create new possibilities and improve the quality of life for adults with physical, emotional, or mental health limitations.
Good nutrition is an important part of healthy aging. Senior Dining sites serve delicious, nutritious meals at convenient locations throughout Milwaukee County.
Support Groups and Events
Milwaukee-based community chorus made up of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
ALS Association Caregiver Support Group
This in-person meeting gives ALS caregivers an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and support one another.
Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups
Local support groups for caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer's or other dementia in a safe, confidential and supportive environment where they can develop social relationships.
Peer-led support groups for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with a mental health condition.
Wisconsin Parkinson Association Support & Exercise Groups
Share lived experiences, learn from one another, and find hope in the company of others who understand the Parkinson's journey.
Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance
Virtual support groups for caregivers.
