Friday, December 14, 2018
Long-Distance Caregivers – Eldercare Locator: Home for the Holidays 2018
Many people living in northeastern Illinois will likely find themselves helping a relative or friend manage their health and wellness. While providing care and support to a relative or friend can be difficult, long-distance caregiving can be particularly challenging. This is the reason the Agency on Aging is participating in Home for the Holidays, an annual public education campaign led by the Eldercare Locator, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the U.S. Administration for Community Living, this year in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving.
In response to numerous requests from members of our community who provide some form of care to loved ones who do not live nearby, the Agency on Aging is participating in the Home for the Holidays campaign to support these long-distance caregivers with tips, tools and resources that can assist them as they care for their relatives and friends—no matter where they live.
Most caregivers support family members by helping them manage long-term physical conditions, arrange medical appointments or secure in-home services—all while not living near the care recipient. Our programs support caregivers—including long-distance caregivers—and provide them with needed tools and resources that enable them to better care for their loved ones.
The Family Caregiver Support Program provides valuable resources for those who are giving unpaid care to adults age 60+ and for those with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. The program includes:
- Caregiver Resource Centers give information about available services. The Centers assess your situation and help connect you to programs to assist you.
- Alternatives to take a break from caring of your elder called Respite Services includes options to help in the home or at another location.
- Options to obtain support in unforeseen circumstances called Gap-Filling Services, covering a variety of items to assist you.
- Legal Services to help you take care of your loved ones.
- Caregiver Counseling Centers to coach/counsel you through troubling times, such as how to bring the family together or to help the senior accept needed services.
- Training and education to assist you to take care of yourself or to learn “how-to” care giving skills to aid your older family member.
- Support groups to share experiences and to understand that you are not alone.
For more information about the campaign and local resources available for older adults and their caregivers, contact Colette Jordan at 630-293-5990 or mailto:[email protected]
