Do you frequently help an older loved-one with housekeeping, grocery shopping, errands, meal preparation, transportation, paperwork, or personal care (bathing, getting dressed)? If so, you are one of more than 65 million Americans who provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend.
Many caregivers do not identify themselves as such. They tend to see themselves as just doing what they are supposed to do as a spouse or child. However, they are more inclined to seek help and become more skilled if they identify themselves as a caregiver.
Council on Aging’s Caregiver Support Program can help. The program provides one-on-one support for family or volunteer caregivers.
The program works to:
- Reduce caregiver stress, burden and injuries
- Increase caregiver confidence and knowledge
- Improve the quality of care
- Help caregivers balance their lives and caregiving responsibilities
- Provide respite care (time off/away for the caregiver) in an appropriate, safe environment for caregivers of individuals who have a cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, for example)
Program qualifications
To qualify, the caregiver or care recipient must be at least 60 years old and the caregiver must live in Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton or Warren counties. There is no age requirement for family caregivers who provide care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction. There are additional eligibility requirements for overnight respite care.
For more information, review the Caregiver Support fact sheet or Call Council on Aging at (513) 721-1025 or (800) 252-0155, Option 2.