Are there provisions under either Medicare or Medicaid for caregiver counseling?

One good federal law that passed several years ago required health insurance companies to cover mental health needs for counseling like any other health need.

If you are retired to disabled, you do have coverage for counseling under medicare.  Go to medicare dot gov and look it up. Many counselors will charge on a sliding scale according to your ability to pay.

During my caregiving years I saw a counselor that specialised in caregiver issues. She was wonderful! How did I find her? She was recommended to me by a geriatric care manager. So ask around with people that work with the elderly, they are very helpful.

Also, try the county Office on Aging, they might help. I am going to a 12 week course on caregiving sponsored by them. They might have something for you.

This really should be part of the package, shouldn't it? Your own insurance might cover this (in some states insurance MUST cover this).

If you or a caregiver you know needs counselling, please keep researching until you find a source. Have you talked it over with your own doctor? The Area Agency on Aging may be able to give you some places to check.

I believe that the Alzheimer's Association chapter in the Baltimore area offers this. I don't know any of the details, as I have not participated yet, but I'm hoping to avail myself of it soon.

Absolutely seek counseling. It has been saving my sanity. If you yourself are using Medicare or Medicaid for your healthcare, then it will cover you for this just as for any other medical office visits, but you need to make sure that your healthcare plan is accepted by the counselor. I second the recommendation for both support groups and assistance from your local Area Agency on Aging -- mostly they help with practical things, but the person you work with there can connect you with services, and even just having someone to listen to your situation validate what you're going through is a huge help. God bless and best of luck, check back to let us know how it's going!

Muszetta, I am moving your post closer to the front page. Hopefully a caregiver who is familiar with this can answer your question.

I have never heard of this. You may want to see if a local church has something or a local Community College has a support group. Try urban local Office of Aging.

Unless you are the patient receiving Medicare or Medicaid, no counseling services are available for caregiver. That would be providing benefits for another under their plan, big no-no.
Hospice has some counseling for family and caregivers, but it's limited and requires hospice.