Many family caregivers feel overwhelmed, underprepared, alone, and stressed as they face the great responsibility of taking care of their loved one. As we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month, we wanted to share our favorite resources to help the compassionate people who step into the family caregiver role every day.
Elderwerks
Elderwerks serves as a free senior housing and care resource network, helping seniors through the transition from one home to another. They specialize in personalized help: they’ll consider your medical conditions, budget, locations and desired amenities to help you pick out housing or services that you’ll love. Their website includes a collection of useful articles and guides on topics ranging from caregiving to financial guidance.
Senior Living Experts
Senior Living Experts is a website created by three local Chicago professionals who are intimately familiar with the senior living industry in the Chicagoland area. They offer free assistance choosing senior housing, taking into consideration your needs, budget and geographical preference. You can choose to be consulted with one of the Senior Living Experts via phone or e-mail, making getting the guidance you need incredibly convenient.
Caregiver Action Network
The Caregiver Action Network prides themselves on being “the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age.” The website offers a forum where caregivers can go for advice from their peers, as well as a resource “toolbox” filled with tips, videos, webinars, checklists and more.
Family Caregiver Alliance
The Family Caregiver Alliance aims to support and educate family caregivers. A non-profit championing the work of the family caregiver through education, services, research and advocacy, the Family Caregiver Alliance website is packed full of information. From caregiving guides for specific conditions (including dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke) to webinars and support groups, caregivers will find the resources offered through Family Caregiver Alliance to be useful and easily applicable to their daily work.
CareGiving.com
Caregiving.com is a hub for family caregivers. The website has a community-oriented nature, and encourages visitors to regularly connect with other members. It features blogs from various family caregivers, webinars, online support groups, a question & answer section. We recommend taking a look at “The 6 Stages of Caregiving” to determine what tasks and goals to give yourself, based on what stage of caregiving you are in.
AARP
The AARP offers a Caregiving Resource Center, complete with information, tools and tips for caregivers. In addition to keeping visitors updated on caregiving news, you can get practical information on health insurance and Medicare/Medicaid, advice on managing your loved one’s legal and financial matters, and tips on how to care for yourself.
AARP’s “Juggling Work and Caregiving”
If you are one of the 42 million Americans caring for a loved one while balancing a career, Amy Goyer’s book “Juggling Work and Caregiving” (available as a free ebook on Amazon) is for you. Goyer, in collaboration with the AARP, offers practical resources and tips for maintaining your own wellbeing while caregiving. The book covers topics including how to work with your employer to make sure you can properly care for your loved one, how to stay sane, dealing with legal matters, and managing finances.