Five Resources Family Caregivers Need To Know About During The Pandemic
Guest Blog By Author Dawn Rasmussen
Being a family caregiver brings new responsibilities and is challenging. It’s something that nobody can be truly prepared for—particularly during the pandemic. Perhaps you will need a support group of people who understand what you are going through. Or maybe you want to learn more about what your loved one is experiencing. Below are some resources that you may not know about that can help you:
HFC (formerly Hilarity For Charity) https://wearehfc.org/
Jennifer L. FitzPatrick, author of Cruising Through Caregiving, is on the Care Advisory Board for HFC. This non-profit organization cares for families facing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The website offers caregiving programs, caregiver resources, and caregiver tips. Perhaps most importantly, they also provide FREE respite grants for home care. You can apply here: Grant Program Delivers Dementia Care to Families in Need of Respite (helpforalzheimersfamilies.com)
The Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/
The Alzheimer’s Association website offers information on Alzheimer’s and Dementia that can help you understand the different stages that your loved one may experience. You can locate your local chapter to access resources like support groups, events, education programs and other information that could be beneficial.
Lewy Body Dementia Association https://www.lbda.org/is-it-lewy/
The LBDA website can help you learn more about Lewy Body Dementia. It will give you access to a hotline, support groups, resources, and education materials. You can also learn about what type of research they are working on and clinical trials.
Eldercare Locator https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx
The U.S. Administration on Aging offers an eldercare locator that helps families and older adults find local services like help with housing, transportation, and insurance. There are additional resources for caregivers as well as information on support services.
NIH National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care
To learn more about hospice and palliative care, NIH National Institute on Aging is a great resource that can answer your questions and explain what hospice and palliative care can offer for you and your loved ones.
Guest Blog Author Dawn Rasmussen is a Salisbury University social work intern at Jenerations Health Education, Inc. A proud cheer Mom for over 24 years, she also works at University of Maryland Global Campus as an Academic Coordinator.