UPCAP Services Information and Assistance Team

UPCAP, the Area Agency on Aging serving Michigan’s entire Upper Peninsula, helps caregivers find respite — temporary relief care — through its free Information and Assistance (I&A) Team. In a vast, rural region where services can be hard to locate, having a knowledgeable guide to respite options is especially valuable for caregivers who rarely get a break.

I&A specialists assess each caregiver’s situation and connect them to respite available through UPCAP’s long-term-care programs, including the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver and other home- and community-based services. Respite may come as in-home help that covers the caregiver for a few hours, an adult day setting, or a short-term stay, depending on what’s available locally. Because UPCAP coordinates aging services across all fifteen U.P. counties, a single call can connect a caregiver to respite along with other supports tailored to their circumstances.

This resource matters because caregiver isolation and exhaustion are intensified in remote areas, and regular respite is one of the most effective ways to prevent burnout and keep a loved one at home. Many U.P. caregivers don’t realize respite may be covered or available nearby. For Upper Peninsula caregivers needing relief, UPCAP’s Information and Assistance Team is the natural first contact, reachable through upcap.org.