HuffPo: Caregiving Resources to the Rescue!

Caring for a loved one isn’t easy.

Caring for a loved one isn’t easy.

Caregivers often find themselves tasked with multiple responsibilities from hiring in-home help, to managing finances, and providing daily personal and medical care for their loved one. Today at least half of caregivers work while providing care, according to a 2010 report from the Center for Health Research and find themselves sandwiched between the demanding roles of caregiver, parent, and spouse. With such a dizzying array of things to do and information to keep track of, it’s no wonder one in three caregivers reports feeling depressed.

But when it comes to caregiving, you can minimize the run-around, headaches, and live a healthy life. Luckily, Tory Zellick, author of the Medical Day Planner and writer for the Huffington Post has made the process even earlier, offering you the best-in-class of useful resources for caregivers. We’re thrilled to be among the organizations on the list and encourage you to check out each of the featured organizations.

Here’s a glimpse at the comprehensive list of caregiving resources:

AARP Caregiving Resource Center
“Caregivers don’t have a lot of time to find resources,” says Amy Goyer, AARP’s Family Expert. “It’s a time-crunch issue.” Ain’t it the truth! That’s why the good folks at AARP have created a comprehensive place for caregivers to find support, guidance, and practical tools, for help with day-to-day caregiving. These resources include video blogs, online support groups, phone calls with experts, web chats, webinars, a long-term-care calculator and a caregiving glossary. In addition, their Caregiving Essentials section offers advice and support for caregivers, on any topic regarding the care process — be it getting started, managing end-of-life care, or self-caring for the caregiver.

Family Caregiver Alliance
Family Caregiver Alliance offers programs at national, state and local levels in the interest of supporting and sustaining caregivers. Along with sponsoring the Family Care Navigator — a state-by-state guide helping families locate support groups, programs and resources — the FCA offers a well-organized website full of information about public policy, research and caregiving advice. In case you do not find what you need on the FCA website, their phone line is open from 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday — providing advice to caregivers and care recipients alike. “FCA is not one-size-fits-all,” emphasizes FCA policy specialist Tyler Stanley. “We take the time to listen to each caller’s individual story and help find the resources they need.”

Caregiver Action Network
Caregiver Action Network (CAN), formerly known as the National Family Caregivers Association, helps caregivers find resources matching their particular needs — be it caregiving from a distance, caregiving while still in the workforce, caregiving over the course of many years, or just beginning the caregiving journey. The organization boasts a network of volunteers who have been caregivers themselves, with many coming from nursing and social work professions. CAN membership is free, and members are matched with volunteers. “This allows you to be put in contact with someone who has a similar experience in the caregiver realm,” says CEO John Schall, adding that the volunteer match “has professional and expert advice and can point you in the direction of resources you may not have known existed.”