Resources for Caregivers

Resources for Caregivers

Resources for Caregivers

As a caregiver, you do not have to be alone in your journey. Help is out there, along with many others who are going through similar experiences. Try not to isolate, but reach out and get the support you deserve and need!

What is a Caregiver?
A family member, friend, or paid helper who regularly looks after a child
or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.

Reasons why Caregivers are needed…
According to the latest data from the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP, 43.5 million people in the United States have provided unpaid care to an adult or child during the last year due to disability, illness, injury, and other events such as addiction.

The Role of a Caregiver is…
For the physical care and emotional support of someone who can no longer care for herself or himself due to illness, injury or disability. This often includes providing support with financial and legal affairs as well.

Self-Care for the Caregiver is Important…
Sometimes caregivers feel selfish for taking responsibility for their own personal care. Often, thinking about one’s own problems leads to even deeper fears, such as what will happen if one is no longer able to care for a family member. If the Caregiver doesn’t take care of her/himself, one cannot care for the person who needs the care.

Getting Support

Caregiver Support Groups
Alzheimer’s Association:
https://www.alz.org/kyin/helping_you/support_groups/kentucy

ComforCare Healthcare DementiaWise Family Caregiver Support Group: https://comforcare.com/dementiawise-family-caregiver-
support-group

Jewish Family & Career Services: (502) 452.6341
https://jfcslouisville.org/group-workshops/

Caregiver Training


University of Louisville School of Nursing: Support & Education Program for Caregivers: http://louisville.edu/nursing/programs-centers/support/support-education-program-for-caregivers

Caregiver Healthcare

Talk with your healthcare provider about you being a caregiver. There may be additional actions and vaccines needed to help you stay optimally healthy while providing care.

Organizations that Offer Support

American Society on Aging: 25 Organizations that take care of Caregivers https://www.asaging.org/blog/25-organizations-take-care-

Caringbridge.org: https://www.caringbridge.org/ is a fabulous communication tool that streamlines and simplifies the task of communicating with friends and family of the person being cared for. When we care for someone there are many who want to know how things are going. Usually this is left to multiple emails, phone calls and face-to-face conversations about their loved one — which isn’t a bad thing just to have someone to talk with or share experiences with. Caringbridge is a great tool to notify the masses all at one time.

Eldercare: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx

Eldercare4Families: (502) 244-8446 https://www.eldercare4families.com/

Family Caregiver Alliance: https://www.caregiver.org/

Hildegard House: http://www.hildegardhouse.org/ Karen Cassidy, Executive Director , kcassidy@hildegardhouse.org , 502-797-7411

Hosparus Health: (502) 813-2659 https://www.hosparushealth.org/

Jewish Family & Career Services: (502) 452.6341 https://jfcslouisville.org/senior-services#sr-services

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Department for Aging and Independent Living: Caregiver Support Services:
https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/caregiversupport.aspx

Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA):
http://kipda.org/

Medicare and Medicaid benefits include respite services. There are some pretty narrow guidelines especially regarding financial ability but an occasional break for the caregiver is a very empowering and refreshing — and very necessary.

Social Security Medicare Benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/

Books on Caregiving

Adams, Elizabeth B. (2019). Living with Momma: A Good person’s guide to caring for aging parents, adult children, and ourselves. Morgan James Faith.

Bertini, Kristine. (2011). Strength for the sandwich generation: Help to thrive while simultaneously caring for our kids and our aging parents. Santa Barbara, CA; Denver, CO; Oxford, England: Praeger.

Hogan, Lori. (2012). Strength for the moment: An Inspiration book for caregivers. Image.

Nouwen, Henri J. M. (2017). Hope for caregivers: A 42-day devotional in company with Henri Nouwen. The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust and Church Center of Memphis, Inc.

Thibault, Jane Marie & Morgan, Richard L. (2009). No act of love is ever wasted: The Spirituality of caring for persons with dementia. Nashville: Upper Room Books.

Wayman, Laura. (2011). A Loving approach to dementia care: Making meaningful connections with the person who has Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia or memory loss. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.