Caregiver Support Services

Family and friends who take care of older persons belong to the volunteer army referred to as caregivers. These unpaid people, according to the National Academy on Aging, provide an estimated $196 billion dollars worth of services. Most of these caregivers have jobs and families. This often means juggling the needs and wants of your employer, your family and yourself. The Caregiver Resource Center provides information about resources and services in Onondaga County that can assist caregivers in taking care of their older family members.

Corporate Caregiver Series

This project, in its second year, began as an attempt to reach out to caregivers whose work schedules often collide with the normal working hours of the places they could turn to for help. With 64% of caregivers in the workforce it became apparent that to be able to provide easy access to information, we needed to go to the workplace. The Corporate Caregiver Series is held at different corporations during the employee lunch hour. These seminars bring professionals in various subject areas, selected by the employees, to the worksight. Employees are able to access information about particular resources and make a valuable connection with a professional in the resource network. This is a convenience to the employee and the employer because the employee is able to secure this assistance without leaving work or taking time off.

Individual Assistance

One to one assistance is available over the phone or by appointment. This gives a caregiver the ability to discuss options and develop a plan that best meets the needs of their loved ones and themselves.

Caregiver Support Services

Additions to this collection include videos and books on caregiving and aging concerns. Current topics include, fitness, planning for retirement, seniors and sexuality and how to have a family meeting about a parent's needs. This medley of books and videos is physically located in the main branch of the Onondaga County Public Library; it is easily available by accessing the library system. A resource listing is available at each branch and satellite. When you wish to view one of the items, you request it at your local branch. The material is sent to that branch and they contact you when it arrives. For those who are homebound, arrangements can be made with the library to have a book or video sent to your home.

The Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP)

The Caregiver Resource Center, in partnership with many community based organizations, has been very active in the RAPP program. RAPP is a peer support program designed to assist non-parent relatives raising children with the complex social, legal, educational and other related issues they experience as caregiving relatives. RAPP provides information and referral, counseling, advocacy, support groups, informational seminars and social events for grandparents and other relatives who are the main caregiver for a relative's children. Many of the concerns of these families are centered on the legal and financial ramifications of providing care for another person's child. RAPP is therefore focusing on ways to provide training to people in human services and legal professions as to the special needs of these families.

For more information about the RAPP program in Onondaga County, contact Linda Seeland at (315) 475-6181 x4370. "Coffee and Conversation" is a group of the RAPP program that meets weekly at the T.A.P. House - 138 Dablin Court. Call Linda for more information about dates and times.


What is the Senior Caregiver Mediation Program?

The Senior Caregiver Mediation Program provides confidential mediation between adult caregivers and their older family members regarding caregiving issues.

The goals of the program are to help adult children fulfill the roles they hope to perform as caregivers and support seniors in maintaining maximum independence. This is done by bringing about greater understanding of the issues involved in the care of the older person(s), defining the problems and arriving at mutually agreed upon solutions through the mediation process.

In addition, the mediator will provide information about resources in the community to assist the family in implementing the solutions or the agreement.

The program is available to seniors, age 60 and older and the adult children, relatives or friends involved in the caregiving of a senior. One of the program participants must be a resident of Onondaga County.

The Family Mediation Program is a service provided through the Caregiver Resource Center at the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth. Mediation sessions will be held at mutually agreed upon community settings such as senior centers, libraries or places of worship.

The Department of Aging and Youth employs a Family Mediation Specialist trained in the New York State Certified Mediator Training Program, to serve as a family mediator.

For more information about the program or to schedule an appointment, call the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth at (315) 435-2362.