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

Two web sites provide information on a range of topics related to health and aging as well as links to other health-related sites:

• Healthfinder
• Health Information Clearinghouses

National Organization Web Sites

• 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 Caregiver Action Network 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.
• The Family Service Older Adult programs are helping older adults live better today and in the future. Through a coordinated approach to information and services, these programs strive to keep seniors independent and in their homes.
• 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.

Sourced from "Because We Care: A Guide For People Who Care", published by the United States Administration on Aging.

Disclaimer: References from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by AoA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Administration on Aging or any of its employees. AoA is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server. Although our page includes links to sites including or referencing good collections of information, AoA does not endorse ANY specific products or services provided by public or private organizations. By using this site, the user takes full responsibility for any use of these links.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

Two web sites provide information on a range of topics related to health and aging as well as links to other health-related sites:

• Healthfinder
• Health Information Clearinghouses

National Organization Web Sites

• 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 Caregiver Action Network 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.
• The Family Service Older Adult programs are helping older adults live better today and in the future. Through a coordinated approach to information and services, these programs strive to keep seniors independent and in their homes.
• 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.

Sourced from "Because We Care: A Guide For People Who Care", published by the United States Administration on Aging.

Disclaimer: References from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by AoA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Administration on Aging or any of its employees. AoA is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server. Although our page includes links to sites including or referencing good collections of information, AoA does not endorse ANY specific products or services provided by public or private organizations. By using this site, the user takes full responsibility for any use of these links.