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Family Caregiver Support Program |
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| There are only 4 kinds of people in this
world: Those who have been caregivers, Those who are
currently caregivers, Those who will be caregivers, and Those
who need caregivers. - Rosalyn Carter |
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You are a caregiver if you assist a loved one in any of the following ways:
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Assist with personal care activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet and moving about;
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Perform tasks to help such as errands, shopping, budgeting, chores, home repairs, meal preparation, and transportation;
Arrange assistance and/or formal (paid) services such as hiring or finding someone to stay with your loved one;
Considering placement of your loved one; and
Administering medications.
Program Eligibility
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The term family caregiver means an adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual(age 60 or older) or to an individual with Alzheimer's Disease or a related disorder with neurological and organic brain dysfunction.
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Relative Caregiver- The term 'grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver' means a grandparent or step-grandparent of a child, or a relative of a child by blood, marriage, or adoption, who is 55 years of age or older and (A) lives with the child; (B) is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child; and (C) has a legal relationship to the child, as such legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally.
Services Provided to Family Caregivers
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Information about available services in your community
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Assistance in connecting you with the available supportive services
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Individual counseling, support groups, and training for caregivers to help them in making decisions and solving problems related to their caregiving role
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Respite care in the form of in-home assistance, adult day care, or group respite to provide the caregivers with a temporary relief from their caregiving duties
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Supplemental services to assist the caregiver as needed such as incontinence supplies, nutrition supplements, minor home modifications, and assistive devices
History of Family Caregiver Support Program
The Family Caregiver Support Program was created in 2000 to support family and informal (unpaid) caregivers to care for their loved ones at home for as long as possible. It is well known that caregiving places a heavy emotional, physical and financial load on the caregiver. Many caregivers over time become very vulnerable to a decline in their own health, so this program was designed to coordinate with other community based services to support those caring for a loved one. The purpose is to reduce caregiver stress and depression so they can care for their loved one longer, avoiding more expensive long term care alternatives. In North Carolina, the services provided through the Family Caregiver Support Program will differ according to the community resources within each county.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a 6-week educational series designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend with a chronic illness. A family caregiver will benefit from this class whether you are helping a parent, spouse, friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country.
Click Here for a list of Upcoming Powerful Tools for Caregivers Training updated 8/11
Fact Sheets
The Family Caregiving Alliance at
www.caregiver.org
offers many helpful fact sheets for family caregivers. Here is just
a sample:
Caregiver's Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors
Caregiving and Depression
Community Care Options
Dementia & Driving
Taking Care of YOU: Self- Care for Family Caregivers
Women and Caregiving: Facts and Figures
For more information on the Family Caregiver Program in your county, click here.
For additional information, contact
Dawn Gartman,
FCSP Program Coordinator.