| Because
We Care
Where Can We Turn for Help?
Introduction
Caregiving may be one of the most important roles you will undertake
in your lifetime. Typically it is not an easy role, nor is it
one for which most of us are prepared. Like most people, you may
have questions about your care receiver’s chronic illness
or disability. If you have a job and are juggling several responsibilities
or if your family member or friend needs a lot of assistance,
you may need help with caregiving, too. Whether you are expecting
to become a caregiver
or have been thrust into the role overnight, it is useful to know
where you can get information and help.
Individuals Who Can Help You Find Assistance
There are information services with staff who can help you figure
out whether and what kinds of assistance you and your care receiver
may need.
You can call:
- The National
Eldercare Locator, a toll-free service funded by the Administration
on Aging (AoA), at 800-677-1116 for information about assistance
that is available in communities across the nation.
- Your State
Agency on Aging (SUA) for information and assistance. Look
in your phone book under “aging” or “senior
services.”
- Your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for information and
assistance right in your community. Look in your phone book
under “aging” or “senior services.”
Generally, state and area agency on aging services are funded
with federal, state, and other monies. These government-funded
services are often targeted to those most in need. While there
are no income criteria for many services, sometimes, you may have
more service options, if you can pay for private help. You can
contact your State or Area Agency on Aging for information
and assistance.
There are several services that can help you plan for the care
that will be needed. They can be accessed through the state or
area agency:
- Care
management services: a care
manager can assess your relative’s needs and resources
and draw up a plan to help her remain as healthy and independent
as possible.
- Social work services: hospitals and nursing homes usually
have social workers and discharge planners.
- Attorneys, who specialize in such areas as wills, trusts,
and probate, and financial planners can help with the legal
and financial
aspects of caregiving
Supportive services for the person needing care can include:
- Transportation
- Meals
- Personal care
- Homemaker
(See the section on "What
Services Can Help Us?" for information on supportive
services.)
Other types of resources for caregivers are:
- Caregiver support groups
- Caregiver organizations
- Organizations like the Alzheimers Association
- Chat rooms on caregiving on the Internet
- Family members and friends who have been caregivers
And don’t forget, if you are an employee covered under
the federal Family
and Medical Leave Act, you are entitled to take up to 12 weeks
of unpaid leave during any one year to care for an older relative.
Additional Resources and Reading Lists
Federal Government Web Sites
hree web sites provide information on a range of topics related
to health and aging as well as links to other health-related sites:
National Organization Web Sites
The AARP's Helping
Older People: Assessing the Situation provides an overview
of what you need to ask if you want to do an assessment yourself.
The Family
Caregiver Alliance web site offers fact sheets on a variety
of topics of interest to caregivers.
Visit the National
Alliance for Caregiving web site that includes links to a
variety of topics related to caregiving.
The National
Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a national, charitable
membership organization dedicated to making life better for all
of America's family caregivers. It offers a variety of information
and support to family caregivers.
Children
of Aging Parents, a nonprofit membership organization, can
provide information and referral services for a variety of professionals,
information about support groups, and educational outreach services.
The Alzheimer’s
Association and the Alzheimer’s
Disease Education and Referral Center offer extensive information
to caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
Commercial Web Sites
Get
Care has a listing of various types of services that can be
clicked on for a short definition of each and a “click on”
printable listing within the article.
Elderhope
911 offers suggestions on ways to deal with caregiver stress
and provides links to numerous organizations and groups designed
to help caregivers.
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Dept. of Health & Human Services
