CAREGIVER RESOURCES   

Organizations that Help Caregivers
Several organizations are devoted to providing resources, aid, and advocating for seniors and caregivers.

 

  *Administration on Aging


 The Administration on Aging is a government organization specifically devoted to providing programs and services to help aging seniors continue living independently. While the organization is primarily focused on the well-being of seniors, it includes an Office of Supporter and Caregiver Services that helps provide funding to families for resources to help with caregiving.

 

  *Family Caregiver Alliance
The Family Caregiver Alliance is a nonprofit organization that provides services and education programs, as well as doing advocacy work to help encourage government policy that’s helpful to caregivers.

 

  *Caregiver Action Network
The Caregiver Action Network provides educational resources for caregivers and a forum to connect family caregivers with others dealing with similar issues.

 

  *Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving provides support programs and training resources for caregivers, as well as advocacy to encourage greater institutional help for caregivers.

 

  *National Respite Network
Sometimes caregivers just need a break. The National Respite Network helps caregivers find respite services that temporarily take over some of the caregiving tasks so family caregivers can take a well-needed break.

 

 

  *Become A Caregiver

 

If you are looking to become a caregiver anywhere in the United States, look no further than caregivers.com. They help get families and caregivers in touch quickly and easily and will ensure the family gets the best caregiver they can while matching the caregiver’s skill set to the right family.

 

 

Resources to Find Caregiving Support


A lot of caregivers find they need support in various forms, but don’t know where to start looking. These resources can help with some of the support you need.

 

Benefits Checkup
Navigating the system of benefits available to seniors is tough, and many seniors leave potential aid or money on the table because they don’t know it’s out there for them. The Benefits Checkup site makes it easier to quickly see what benefits are available in your area that you or your loved one are likely to qualify for.

 

Family Care Navigator
The support resources available to caregivers vary based on your geographic location. The Family Care Navigator helps you hone in on what programs and organizations are specifically available to you in your state.

 

National Volunteer Caregiving Network
The National Volunteer Caregiving Network helps connect volunteers who want to help others in their communities with seniors or people with disabilities who need that help. Volunteers help with things like transportation, errands, and home repairs.

 

Lotsa Helping Hands
Lotsa Helping Hands is another website that helps connect volunteers with caregivers in their area who need some extra help. Caregivers can put the help they need on the website’s calendar and available volunteers step in to provide help with tasks like meal delivery or rides to appointments.

 

Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator is a resource provided by the Administration on Aging to help seniors and caregivers find trusted professionals to help with the various services seniors commonly need, like home modifications and legal assistance.

 

Well Spouse Association
Many senior caregivers are spouses taking care of their partner. The Well Spouse Association helps senior caregivers in this position tap into a larger community of other caregivers taking care of a spouse.

 

Find Support Groups
Most communities have several support groups that caregivers can attend to find others struggling with similar challenges. Often, these support groups are specific to the particular issue your loved one is dealing with, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s support groups. These groups can be an invaluable resource for finding other people who understand what you’re going through and having a healthy outlet for your feelings.

 

Senior Care Options to Lighten the Load


Often what caregivers need most is somebody else to take on some of the work they’re trying to manage. These resources can help with that.

 

Senior Day Care
Adult daycare lets you drop off your senior loved one for the day while you work or run errands and trust that they’ll be in the care of trained staff. Senior day care also gives seniors a chance to socialize and stay busy in a new environment for the day, which many seniors start to need more as they age.

 

In-home Care
In-home care professionals come to your home for a set number of hours to help out with the care your loved one needs. You can hire in-home care workers to provide basic around-the-house help, or home health care workers to provide health care to your loved one.

 

Assisted Living
While many families hesitate to take the step of moving a senior loved one to assisted living, sometimes it is the best choice for everyone. Assisted living facilities have staff available all hours of the day to help with the ADLs seniors often need assistance with.

 

Respite Care
If you don’t want to take a step that feels as permanent as assisted living, but you know you need a break, respite care can take the caregiving duties off your hands for a temporary period.

 

Meals on Wheels
A big part of taking care of someone is making sure that they get enough meals each day to stay healthy. For overwhelmed caregivers, that’s not a small task. Meals on Wheels can help fill in that part of your job to take one more thing off your plate.

 

Independent Transportation Network
Once your loved one can no longer safely drive, getting them out to appointments and social events becomes another difficulty to manage. ITN helps seniors access affordable transportation options that provide the level of help seniors often need.

 

Educational Resources to Learn More About Caregiving Issues


People and organizations that can help are undeniably valuable, but sometimes getting the right knowledge at the right time is just as important.

 

LongTermCare.gov 
LongTermCare.gov is a government website full of educational resources to help people plan for long-term care and understand the options and benefits available to them.

 

Guide to Veteran’s Long-Term Care
Veterans have even more potential benefits to tap into than most other seniors. If your loved one is a veteran or the spouse of one, this website can help you understand the benefits available to them.

 

National Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer’s Caregiving Resources
A growing number of people provide care for Alzheimer’s patients, who require a distinct set of skills and knowledge to be properly cared for. The NIH provides educational materials to help caregivers learn what to do and expect.

 

Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Center
The Alzheimer’s Association is one of the leading authorities on the disease. Their website provides a wealth of information on caring for Alzheimer’s patients based on up-to-date research on the subject.

 

American Heart Association’s Resources for Caregivers
Heart disease is another common illness seniors face. The American Heart Association provides some educational tips for caregivers helping a loved one with heart disease.

 

Cancer Caregivers Resources
The American Cancer Society likewise provides resources to loved ones of cancer patients to help provide the main information they need to take care of someone suffering from cancer.

 

National Parkinson Foundation Caregiver’s Resources
The National Parkinson Foundation provides several resources to caregivers of seniors who have Parkinson’s. They also offer a helpline for caregivers who have questions.

 

Caregiver’s Home Companion
The Caregiver’s Home Companion is a website that includes forums to connect caregivers, and resources that cover many different aspects of caregiving, from the spiritual to the practical.

 

Next Step in Care
Next Step in Care provides guides for caregivers that help them figure out how to work with health care providers to figure out the next step for their loved one when facing complicated decisions and transition periods.

 

AARP’s Caregiver Resources
In addition to the many resources they provide for seniors, AARP also provides planning guides and other educational resources for the caregivers that help care for seniors.

 

Video Caregiving
For those who prefer to learn by video rather than reading, Video Caregiving provides several films to help caregivers learn the skills they need.

 

mmLearn
mmLearn provides both videos and blog posts that cover an array of topics helpful to senior caregivers.

 

Senior caregiving is often difficult on several different levels, but any little bit of help you can get will make your caregiving work more sustainable and effective. Figure out which resources to help caregivers best fit your needs and take advantage of them. You’ll be a better caregiver if you’re less overwhelmed and getting the help you need.

 

 

The Gori Law Firm 

 Mesothelioma & Seniors - gorilaw.com/mesothelioma-in-seniors/        

 

What to do If Your Personal Data Has Been Compromised

Seniors are often targeted by scams and data breaches due to the assumption that they may be less familiar with digital security measures. Taking quick action—such as updating passwords and monitoring financial activity—can help minimize further damage. Staying informed and pursuing legal options can also hold those responsible accountable and possibly lead to compensation. We’ve developed a guide on what to do after a personal data breach:

What to Do After a Data Breach - classactionu.org/data-breach/what-to-do/