Resources for Caregivers
Old age is not for sissies – and neither is the caregiver role. You are NOT alone. Below is a list of some of the wonderful resources for caregivers available (in no particular order):
- The Administration for Community Living This organization provides a list of national and local organizations that support older adults and those with disabilities. Some organizations focus on a particular type of disability, age group, or type of service, whereas others have a more comprehensive mission.
- Eldercare Locator The Eldercare Locator links people who need assistance with state and local agencies on aging and community-based organizations serving older adults and their caregivers. Call them if you need help with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or if you are a caregiver who needs training, education or a well-deserved break.
- National Institute of Aging: This organization is a comprehensive index of health topics.
- Travel.State.Gov: Find travel tips and suggestions for older travelers here. Topics include: travel documents, staying connected, health information, pharmacies and medication, accessibility and accommodations, scam prevention, and emergency preparedness
- Long-Term Care: Long-Term Care gives you the basics about medicaid, medicare, where you live, how to decide, and how to pay your expenses.
- CDC: Find what you need to know about advance care planning.
- Benefits Checkup: Search the database of approximately 2,500 nationwide benefit programs to see which ones are available in your area.
- Sage: This national resource focuses on LGBT aging.
- Paralysis Community, This resource, created by Christopher & Dana Reeve, is a safe and secure online social networking site with an active discussion area on many areas of paralysis, including caregiving.
- Caregiver Action Network: This network educates, supports and empowers families who care for chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones
- National Alliance for Caregiving: This coalition of national groups supports family caregivers and the professionals who help them.
- The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving: This institute establishes local, state and national partnerships committed to promoting caregiver health, skills and resilience.
- Well Spouse: If you are a wife,husband or partner someone who is chronically ill and/or disabled, contact this national organization. They address issues common to family caregivers such as anger, guilt, fear, isolation, grief, and financial threat.
- Caregiving.com: This web community supports families and healthcare professionals who care for chronically ill or disabled family members.
- The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA): This alliance operates the National Center on Caregiving to develop support programs for family caregivers in nationwide.
- AARP: A comprehensive caregiving resource center, AARP addresses legal issues, long distance caregiving, end-of-life issues and more. Call toll-free 1-877-333-5885.
- Today’s Caregiver: This magazine offers topic-specific newsletters, online discussion lists, chat rooms and an online store.
- National Respite Coalition Network: This network provides parents, caregivers and professionals with information about respite services available in their local area.
- National Caregivers Library: Check out this large source of free information for caregivers.
- Shepherd’s Centers of America (SCA). This interfaith organization coordinates nearly 100 independent Shepherd’s Centers across the United States to help seniors remain independent.
- Hiring and Management of Personal Care Assistants for Individuals with SCI: Download this booklet from the SCI Project at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for information about everything from locating and hiring to training and paying personal assistants. Includes forms, checklists and resources.
- CareCure Forum CareCure is a forum for caregivers that offers an active and helpful message board for loved ones and caregivers of people living with paralysis.
- Nursing Home Compare. Nursing Home Compare,sponsored by Medicare, offers information about the past performance of most nursing homes in the U.S
- ConsumerMedSafety.org– This organization is part of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). They focus on helping consumers avoid mistakes when taking medicines.
- MedicineNet – Medicine net offers health and medical information produced by doctors.
- PDR.net – The PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference) is the most trusted source for FDA-approved Drug Labeling for Physicians and Prescribers
- RxList – RxList is an internet Drug Index for prescription and over the counter medications.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration The FDA is federal agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Mesothelioma resource This non-profit provides patients and loved ones with resources, answers, and information about a wide variety of free assistance options.
Our growing list of 50Plus-Today resources
Check back often! We add frequently to the above resource list. If you successfully used a resource and would like to add it to our list, please email us or add in the comment section below.
