Caregiver Grants
What is a Caregiver Grant?
The Caregiver Grant is a Road Scholar tuition credit of up to $2,000 for adults 50 and older who devote themselves as the primary, unpaid family caregiver for an ill or disabled loved one. The Caregiver Grant is applied directly toward the cost of one of our immersive learning adventures in the United States or Canada. The warm, welcoming and friendly nature of our learning adventures can provide a much-needed respite from the emotional and physical demands of being a caregiver.
Understanding that the journey of caregiving and healing continues even after loss, we also warmly welcome caregivers to apply for up to two years after their loved one has passed.
Ultimately, this life-changing opportunity provides a much-needed respite, allowing caregivers to step away, intellectually recharge and find renewed inspiration within a welcoming community of lifelong learners.
Eligible Programs for Caregivers
You can apply for a Caregiver Grant toward the cost of any program that takes place in the United States or Canada and costs no more than $2,500.
Eligibility Requirements
Please review the eligibility criteria before you start the application process.
- You are the primary unpaid caregiver providing daily care and support for an ill or disabled family member (spouse, parent, adult child, partner or sibling).
- You are 50 years of age or older.
- You live in the United States.
- You are facing financial barriers preventing you from participating in a Road Scholar program.
- You have not taken a Road Scholar program in the last two years.
- Your loved one may also be receiving home care, hospice, visiting nurse, LPN services, or comparable and related services.
- Your loved one may be in adult day care, memory care, a nursing home or comparable or related facility.
You are also eligible if you have lost a loved one for whom you were the primary caregiver within the past two years. Generally, Caregiver Grants are awarded to recipients whose household income is less than 80% of the median income in their state of residency.
How to Apply
Please complete one application per person. In order to be reviewed by the Financial Assistance Committee, all parts of the application must be complete, including the program number and date for which you are applying. Please answer the questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Your answers will be used to determine eligibility. Any incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Please use the checklist at the end of the application to ensure that your submission is complete and eligible. We cannot review an application for a program with a start date of less than eight (8) weeks in the future, a program that has passed the final payment date, a sold-out program or for an enrollment that has already been paid in full.
What happens after I apply?
The review of an application takes 4-6 weeks once it has been received by the committee; applications are reviewed in the order that they are received. Therefore, please ensure that you are submitting this application early enough to allow time to enroll and make your travel arrangements after you receive your award letter. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your selected program start date.
PRO TIP: You can reserve your spot by enrolling in your selected program before applying! If your application is not approved, you will be refunded your deposit. Just remember that eligible programs are in the U.S. or Canada and are under $2,500.
Here's How the Caregiver Grant Works
What happens if my application is approved?
- The Caregiver Grant is applied toward the cost of the program you selected in your application.
- The amount of the Caregiver Grant award will be up to $2,000, based on the program cost and the required deposit.
- At minimum, you will pay the applicable deposit for the program selected.
- You will pay the balance of the program cost after the Caregiver Grant has been applied.
What if my plans change?
We know that in rare instances that you may have to adjust your travel plans. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you cancel your enrollment in the program, the Caregiver Grant becomes void.
- If Road Scholar cancels your program, the Caregiver Grant can be transferred to another program without fees.
- If, after enrollment, you decide to transfer to another eligible program, the Caregiver Grant may be transferred along with the enrollment. The corresponding transfer fees will apply.
- Your Caregiver Grant can’t be transferred to another person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about these frequently asked questions before you apply.
General Questions