COASEV offers a number of services to assist people looking for caregivers, as well as offering assistance to caregivers themselves.

Workshops for Caregivers:

The Caregiving Puzzle, a free series of workshops for anyone who is caring for someone with chronic illness or who is at the end of life. Workshops will be held the second Thursday of each month from 4 to 5:45 at the Gathering Place in Brattleboro. For details, contact Cheryl Richards at 802-257-0775.

Certification Course for independent professional home caregivers
Elderwise is offering a certification course for independent professional home caregivers. It is a 70 hour course offered at three sites: Brattleboro, Burlington and Middlebury. For information, call 1-877-347-1419 or email info@elderwiseinc.com .

Cancercare offers telephone education workshops at www.cancercare.org

Finding a Caregiver:

If you are in need of a caregiver, we can provide a list of private individuals who are interested in providing care for elders and younger disabled individuals in Windsor or Windham counties - a Caregiver Registry. Please call, write, or email us for this information. WE DO NOT screen people for references nor do background checks. If you find someone listed that may meet your caregiving needs, it is your responsibility to check their references and background. We offer this registry only as helpful community service guide to help you in your search.

Direct Care Workers - New VT online registry connects workers with elders and people with disabilities: www.rewardingwork.org/vt Contact info@coasevt.org for an access code to subscribe for 1 year free.

Elderwise also provides a list of their trained caregivers. Visit their website at: www.elderwiseinc.com

Employing a caregiver in your home - Some important information you should know:

Many people need help to live independently in their homes. Some people need help with house hold tasks like cleaning, shopping, and errands; other people need help with more personal tasks, like bathing and dressing. If you pay a "caregiver" to assist you with these tasks, and that person does not work for an agency or an organization, you are probably that person's "employer"--and you may have specific responsibilities under state and federal laws, including payroll tax withholding. Your responsibilities depend on the total wages that you pay the employee.

The Vermont Department of Aging and Disabilities, in cooperation with the Northeastern Vermont Area Agency on Aging has developed a brochure to help you understand your responsibilities as an employer (call the Senior Helpline, 1-800-642-5119, for a copy). You may decide to manage your employer responsibilities on your own or hire another person or agency to handle them for you. A list of payroll management agencies can be obtained by calling the Senior Helpline at:

1-800-642-5119
or the Department of Disabilities at
1-802-241-2400

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Do You Need Help Choosing a Caregiver?

Project Home of Burlington Vermont has published an excellent booklet called:
"HELP At HOME" A guide to Finding and Keeping Your Caregiver" It details useful information on self-directed and non-medical approaches to meeting your caregiving needs. To purchase a booklet send $10.00 to:

Project Home
3 Cathedral Square
Burlington, Vermont 05401
(802-863-5625)

An online resource, Since You Care:  Hiring an Independent Caregiver  can be accessed for free at http://www.metlife.com/

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Help for Caregivers: The Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont is interested in knowing about your experience as a caregiver so that we may provide appropriate assistance and resources. If you would be willing to provide us with information about your caregiving role, please fill out this brief form. Thank you.

Eldercare Locator: For long distance care givers, the Eldercare Locator, a nationwide toll-free service, helps older adults and their caregivers find local services for seniors.

The U.S. Administration on Aging makes this service available on-line so that consumers can easily link to the information and referral services of their state and Area Agencies on Aging. These programs can help you identify appropriate services in the area where you or your family member resides.
Go to: www.eldercare.gov/

The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a grassroots organization created to empower, educate, support, and speak up for the millions of Americans who care for a chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved one.

NFCA reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different relationships and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. For information and resources, go to: www.nfcacares.org/

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