Caregiver Resources

Ever feel lonely? You sure would like to sip coffee with a friend or have some therapeutic belly laughs at a comedy movie, but picking up the phone to arrange a break is too much effort. No doubt about it, caring for a parent saps your energy, which in turn isolates you.

AARP Foundation is testing a buddy program in Chicago to encourage caregivers. Connecting Caregivers to Community, or CC2C, trains volunteers to understand how feelings and energy can be drained by caregiving and to know what community resources might help. These trained volunteers then partner with caregivers to help for a time. A minister at Trinity United Church of Christ coordinates CC2C.

You can read more in AARP Bulletin's November 2013 issue, or in the online article: states.aarp.org

Ease Burden of Caring for a Parent

Filled with practical resources, Anne Tergesen's article, "Ease Burden of Caring for a Parent" appeared in Sunday's Wall Street Journal Sunday. Here are just a few examples of her helpful info.

Fifty-three percent of companies in a 600-company survey offer flexible work hours for caregivers. Forty-five percent allow telecommuting, 35 percent compressed workweeks, and 13 percent job sharing. In addition, 50+-employee companies must offer up to 12 weeks unpaid leave each year to caregivers.

You can get information on everyday issues such as in-home care and transportation at www.eldercare.gov and the names of geriatric care managers at www.caremanager.org. The National Council on Aging has databases and programs you can explore at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org. 


I encourage you to read the complete Wall Street Journal article at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304782404577488921344247372.html?mod=googlenews_wsj