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One way that caregivers can seek support and additional information is through a host of online websites and forums. The following websites provide a few examples of the online communities and tools available for and tailored to caregivers.
Lotsa Helping Hands
Lotsa Helping Hands provides a free service for caregivers and their loved ones: Lotsa Helping Hands allows caregivers to set up their own website to more easily manage volunteers to assist with caregiving tasks. The Lotsa Helping Hands website can also provide a way for caregivers to share information about an individual’s progress with a select group of family and friends.
National Family Caregivers Association
The NFCA website provides information for caregivers, connects caregivers to one another, publicizes upcoming related events, posts blog excerpts and more.
Caring Connections
Provides information about preparing to provide care, financial; information, understanding pain, advance directives, and a host of additional topics.
Family Care Navigator
The National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance has launched
the Family Care Navigator, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive online guide
intended to help families in all 50 states and the District of Columbia
locate government, nonprofit, and private caregiver support programs. The
resource is available at:
Family members are the backbone of the long-term care system in the United States. They provide about 80% of the care for older people who need help with activities of daily living, making decisions, monitoring medications, handling finances and providing transportation. While we hear a great deal about those age 60 and older living in nursing homes, only 5% of this population actually do.
With the growth of our population age 65 and older, and especially that group 85 and older, we not only have greater numbers but the kind of care needed is becoming more specialized, more labor intensive and more costly. Public systems are and will be unable to meet the need for the provision of care. More and more responsibility will be placed on family caregivers with support from community programs and services.
The Institute for Caregivers is a program developed by the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the Alzheimer's Association of CNY in anticipation of this trend. I Care offers a wide range of courses, hands-on workshops and presentations by a faculty of local experts to provide education and information specifically to those who are and will be family caregivers of older persons. We expect that this training will enable our citizens to fulfill their caregiving responsibilities with greater success and confidence while maintaining a more realistic balance in their own lives.
to enter the Institute for Caregivers
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