10 Resources for Caregivers and Their Families
Millions of Americans are caregivers. In fact, according to American Psychological Association, more than 65 million people have acted as a family member’s primary provider this past year.
Caregivers play an important role, but it can also lead to burnout and mental health issues if you’re not taking enough time to address your needs. Whether you are caring for a child, parent or another loved one, the same rules apply. Caregivers need support too, from mental health to practical resources.
• The Mighty’s Caregiving Toolkit
Below are 10 resources for caregivers and their families.
1. AARP Family Caregiving
From preparation guides and legal checklists to an online caregiving community, AARP is a great resource for caregivers and their families. Bonus: AARP also has a free caregiver support line for one-on-one help.
2. Caregiver Action Network
Founded in 2017, the Caregiver Action Network has a plethora of resources for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, complex medical conditions and aging loved ones.
3. CaringBridge
Caregiving can be hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. CaringBridge helps family members stay connected through free, private websites where users can share health updates and support.
4. Eldercare Locator
Do you need assistance caring for an older family member? If so, Eldercare Locator may be right for you. The public service, funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, offers resources for older adults, including support services, housing resources, health care information, and elder rights education.
5. Family Caregiver Alliance
Established in 2001, the Family Caregiver Alliance has information, support and resources for family caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses, disability and other conditions such as Alzheimer’s, stroke and Parkinson’s disease.
6. Financial Steps for Caregivers
Financial Steps for Caregivers, tagline “What You Need to Know About Money and Retirement,” was created to help caregivers better manage the financial implications of caregiving. The website includes a budget worksheet to help you keep track of the many costs of care. It also includes information about how you can protect your money.
7. National Alliance on Mental Illness
If you are caring for a mentally ill family member, you may want to visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ website. The grassroots alliance offers information, resources, referrals and peer-to-peer support for people living with mental illness — and their caregivers.
8. National Institute on Aging
Much like Eldercare Locator, the National Institute on Aging has health information and resources for seniors and their families. The organization also has planning tools and a section with information on long-distance caregiving.
9. National Family Caregiver Support Program
Established in 2000, the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) aims to support caregivers informationally, financially and with counseling services. NFCSP also advocates for the rights of those who are ill, elderly or who otherwise need support.
10. Next Step in Care
According to the Next Step in Care (NSC) website, NSC “provides easy-to-use guides to help family caregivers and health care providers work closely together to plan and implement safe and smooth transitions for chronically or seriously ill patients.” We couldn’t have said it better!
What resources would you add? Let us know in the comments!
Header image via Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
Kimberly Zapata is a trending news writer for SheKnows. Her work has appeared on numerous sites, including the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Parents, Scary Mommy, Babble, Romper and The Mighty, and when she is not immersed in “all things writing,” she is working on her nonprofit, Greater Than Illness: an organization dedicated to empowering teens and young adults struggling with mental health concerns.
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