Helpful Tools for Caregivers

A majority of us will be caregivers at some point in our lives. According to AARP, an estimated 34.2 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in 2015. It may start as something as small as helping manage finances or housework, but as our loved ones age debilitating disease, chronic health conditions or simple frailty can soon follow. It’s that person who steps up to assist a stricken family member, friend or neighbor that earns the title of caregiver.

Whether you’re a new or seasoned caregiver there are several local, state and national resources to not only help you manage what your loved one may need, but prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

Local
Area Agencies on Aging – offices established through the Older Americans Act that serve to facilitate and support the development of programs to address the needs of older adults in a defined geographic region and support investment in their talents and interests. In North Carolina, AAAs are located within regional Councils of Government.

Adult Children of Aging Parents Community – provides information, resources, support and community for those caring for a loved one. Although designed specifically for adult-children caring for aging parents, ACAPcommunity programs are open to all who are interested.

Catawba County DSS | Adult Services – lists supportive services for adults that are available in Catawba County.

SIR – the Unifour’s newest educational resource for seniors, their families and their caregivers.

Catawba County Council on Aging – provides a focal point for aging resources,
as well as, opportunities designed to extend independent living and enrich the quality of life for older adults in Catawba County.

State
NC Health and Human Services | Aging and Adult Services – works to promote the independence and enhance the dignity of North Carolina’s older adults, persons with disabilities, and their families through a community-based system of opportunities, services, benefits and protections.

National
Family Caregiver Alliance and National Center on Caregiving – gives caregiving information and advice, fact sheets and publications, newsletters, public policy and research.

AARP Caregiving Resource Center offers expert advice and resources for your senior care needs.

Caregiver Action Network – provides education, peer support and resources that serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Eldercare Locator – a national directory for information on aging programs and services anywhere in the United States.

National Alliance for Caregiving – a coalition of national organizations focused on family caregiving issues.

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