Resources & Support
We are growing this list of resources as we interact with members of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care. We are confident that there are helpful sources of support for caregivers and those being cared for. Sometimes we just don't know where to start. Hopefully this will help.
AARP Family Caregiving Website
The resources are endless on this site! Hopefully you will never feel completely alone on this journey.
The AARP Family Caregiving website offers tips, videos, care guides and so much great information specifically for family caregivers about important topics, from the basics of caregiving to local resources and solution.
Area Agencies on Aging
Just type in your zip code and away you go! All the local resources at your fingertips.
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging can help you find your local Area Agency on Aging, which can offer a variety of support services that range from caregiver respite to transportation and emergency assistance.
Family Care Navigator
More amazing resources available to you state by state. No matter what stage of caregiving you are in this site is Helpful!
This guide, created by the Family Caregiver Alliance, breaks down caregiver resources by state, allowing you to find respite services near you.
Five Wishes
The Five Wishes provided tremendous peace to us and to Norma at the end of her life. And , it is a legal document!
More than just an advance directive, Five Wishes brings a holistic approach to a living will by including an individual’s care and comfort choices. It provides a means to legally document your choices for medical treatment, comfort, and care wishes.
Hospice
"As a hospice nurse myself I wish more of my patients were given this opportunity to 'live' before they die."
-Julie
Hospice offers medical care toward a different goal: maintaining or improving quality of life for someone whose illness, disease or condition is unlikely to be cured. Each patient’s individualized care plan is updated as needed to address the physical, emotional and spiritual pain that often accompanies terminal illness. Hospice care also offers practical support for the caregiver(s) during the illness and grief support after the death. Hospice is something more that is available to the patient and the entire family when curative measures have been exhausted and life prognosis is six months or less.
National Volunteer Caregiver Network
Oh, this is cool! Check the map to see if there is a volunteer network near you. Don't be afraid to ask for help!
National Volunteer Caregiver Network – The NVCN supports “Faith in Action” programs across the U.S. These projects allow volunteers of all faiths to share their time and skills with caregivers in need of respite. Find resource near you using the Network’s Locator Map.
Prepare to Care
Wow! This has everything you need to get organized as you prepare to care.
AARP’s Prepare to Care guide outlines five steps you can take to be better prepared when you need to care for loved ones, and you can re-visit these steps over and over again to adjust plans as their needs change (so even if you’re in the middle of caregiving, this guide is a great resource). It’s a basic framework on which you can build support throughout the ups and downs of caregiving.
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
Don't know where to turn for respite care? This site has a state by state map of resources. Check it out!
This network features a Respite Locator which can connect you with respite services in your area and provide information on potential funding sources.
Holiday Caregiving
Am I the only one who struggles during this time of year?
Ahh, the holidays... As our loved one's needs change so do our experiences during the holiday season. Here are several ideas to help caregivers get through and enjoy the spirit of the season.
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10 tips for coping with caregiving blues during the holidays
Caring for Caregivers at Christmas is a Special Gift
10 tips for caregivers during the holiday season
Sharing Experience - Caring for the Caregiver - Managing Family Celebrations
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Long Distance Caregivers
"So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more? It would be so fine to see your face at my door."~Carole King
Are you far away from your aging or ill loved one? Sometimes a long way is a 30 minute drive, sometimes it is thousands of miles away. The resources below may help those who are not nearby.
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• Handbook for Long-Distance Caregivers - Family Caregiver Alliance
• Caregiving: Tips for long-distance caregivers - Mayo Clinic
• Help for Long-Distance Caregivers - AARP
• Getting Started with Long-Distance Caregiving - National Institute on Aging
• Long-Distance Caregiving - Alzheimer's Association
Supporting Caregivers in Jewish Congregations
‘What do you need?’, a ‘How can I help?’it is all about RELATIONSHIPS.”
-Rabbi Richard Address,
MAZEL TOV and welcome to the C-TAC site for Jewish clergy on how to create a caregiving program for your congregation.
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What are Palliative care and Hospice?
"Don't count the days; make the days count" ~ Muhammed Ali
National Institute on Aging -- Many Americans die in facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes receiving care that is not consistent with their wishes.The National Institute on Aging helps us better understand our options and how to receive the care that is most important to our loved ones.