Local Support For Family Care Givers Needed
By Linda Warner
Who is a family (informal) caregiver? These caregivers are usually spouses, adult children, other relatives, and friends who provide unpaid assistance to older persons living in the community who need help in at least one activity of daily living. Despite increased geographic separation, greater numbers of women in the workforce, and other changes in family life, the American family continues to care for loved ones at a steady rate for the last decade. Of the older persons receiving paid and unpaid assistance, 95% have family and friends involved in their care (U.S. Administration on Aging).
Assistance at the national level began in fiscal year 2001, in the development of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). It was modeled after some successful state programs and after listening to the needs expressed by hundreds of family caregivers in discussions held across the country. Those eligible include family caregivers of older adults; and grandparents and relative caregivers, aged 60 or older, of children no older than 18 (including caregivers of individuals who are cognitively impaired or have developmental disabilities).
The program calls for all states, working in partnership with area agencies on aging and local community-service providers, to offer the following 5 basic services for family caregivers:
- Information about available services.
- Help in getting access to services.
- Individual counseling, support groups, and training to assist in decision making and problem solving.
- Respite care to provide temporary relief from their caregiving responsibilities.
- Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care they provide.
Why is there a need for caregiver support? According to the most recent National Long Term Care Survey, the price paid by caregivers is significant. That survey along with other research has documented the following statistics:
- Caregivers dedicate on average 20 hours per week to the provision of care for older persons and even more time when the older person has multiple disabilities;
- Caring for an older person with disabilities can be physically demanding, particularly for older caregivers who make up half of all caregivers. One-third of all caregivers describe their own health as fair to poor;
- Because caregiving is such an emotionally draining experience, caregivers have a high rate of depression when compared to the general population;
- Almost one-third of all caregivers' time is spent balancing employment and caregiving responsibilities, and of this group, two-thirds report conflicts in roles that require them to rearrange their work schedules, work fewer than normal hours, and/or take unpaid leaves of absence.
In November of this year, Illinois Department on Aging Director Margo E. Schreiber, announced that, "Local agencies servicing seniors will expand their target audience, and will offer additional help to family members and friends who are caring for their loved ones." The Department on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state have established "Caregiver Resource Centers" within existing familiar locations like senior centers to offer information and assistance to family caregivers. An example of this might be in locating respite care that gives family members a break from the constant demands of caregiving.
If you live in Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Jefferson, or Marion Counties and would like more information on family caregiver resources, contact Midland Area Agency on Aging by phoning them at 618-532-1853 or writing to them at P.O. Box 1420, Centralia, IL 62801. For specific information relating to the emotional needs of family caregivers contact Linda Warner, Senior Outreach Specialist, at Heartland Human Services-- 217-347-7179.