Who
are the Caregivers?
According to the
National Family Caregivers Association more than one quarter (26.6%)
of the U.S. adult population has provided care to a family member or
friend during the past year. Based on current census data, that translates
into more than 54 million caregivers. Family caregivers focus on their
loved one's needs.
Caregiving Tips:
Know Your Local Resources: including seeking advice and resources
that will educate and assist you in decision-making. The Council on
Aging's Senior Helpline 1-800-642-5119, has a tremendous amount of local
and state information to share on: respite funding, local private caregiver
registry, public benefit information, free long term care option counseling
right in your
home, and much more.
Seek Support:
you are not alone! There are support groups in your local area that
are made up of family members going through some of the same experiences
you are. They can share tips and suggestions on how to manage and cope
on a day to day basis.
Working Caregivers: try some of the online caregiving support groups
available to you at
anytime of day like:
www.caregiver.org/online_sptgroup.html
www.seniorhealth.about.com
Don't Isolate
Yourself: when you try to do it all without help from others you
put both you and your loved one at risk. So many caregivers risk getting
sick themselves because they do not ask for help soon enough. Once that
happens you diminish your ability to stay healthy and keep your loved
one healthy too.
Avoid Burnout:
· Stay involved with others.
· Go visit a friend on a regular basis.
· Let others help out occasionally so if an emergency arises
and you can't be there, loved ones will accept help from someone else
temporarily.
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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Do you need Help?
The Council on Aging
is actively seeking Grandparents 60 years and older raising their grandchildren
in the Windsor and Windham Counties.
The National Family
Caregiver Program has identified that more and more elders find themselves
becoming surrogate parents to grandchildren. If you are raising grandchildren
and would like to share your story with us please call at: 1-800-642-5119
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Adult
Day Services: A good option for working caregivers and respite
Are you struggling
to balance work and home responsibilities while caring for family and
aging parents or siblings? Then you are not alone.
A report commissioned
by the Alzheimer's Association states that the total cost to businesses
employing workers who are caregivers for people with Alzheimer's Disease
is $36.5 billion. This includes absenteeism- $10 billion; productivity
losses- $18 billion; worker replacement cost- $6 billion, etc.
Adult Day Services
have become a quality safe haven for those in the care of working Caregivers.
Adult Day Service
Programs are certified by the State of Vermont and are an affordable
and worry free alternative to keeping loved ones at home while Caregivers
work or for Caregivers that need respite time to avoid burnout.
Most Adult Days
have Monday through Friday working hour coverage and can provide transportation
via handicapped vans or through volunteer drivers for those who need
it.
Adult Day Programs have trained social work and nursing staff, offer
nutritional meals, and recreational activities to stimulate and focus
participants. Blood pressure checks and limited physical therapy is
also done on premises.
Most Adult Day participants
attend 2-3 days per week. Some attend Monday -Friday. Arrangements can
be made for occasional visits to provide for Caregivers who need a short
term break.
Need help paying
for Adult Day Services?
- Adult Day is
available on a sliding fee scale.
- Medicaid eligible
participants with physical or occupational therapy needs.
- Respite funds
are available for elders with dementia or primary caregivers that
meet liberal income guidelines.
Call 1-800-642-5119
Senior Helpline