Caregives urged to follow survival tips

    Caregiver support is a primary focus for DEA and its partners. Recently, national aging network agencies observed the 10th anniversary of the National Family Care-giver Support Program (NFCSP). The program, created and funded by the Older Americans Act, has played a major role in providing resources and support to families involved in care giving duties. Family caregivers are the foundation of support for the nation’s long-term care system. Continued support of dedicated family members and friends is essential to this elaborate system of unpaid caregivers.
    According to the National Family Care-giver Alliance, 66 percent of all older persons with chronic disabilities are cared for by a family member. Sixty-five million people provide care for a clinically ill, disabled, older family member or friend each year. More than 470,000 grandparents age 65 and older have primary care responsibility for their grandchildren.
    The NFCSP has provided information and resources to more than 1.3 million caregivers. More than 140,000 caregivers have received counseling and training and joined peer support groups. More than 73,000 caregivers have benefited from 9.8 million hours of respite service.
    Additional information provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging shows that 77 percent of caregivers believe that NFCSP services have helped them to keep their older relative in the community longer than they thought was possible, and 89 percent caregivers reported those services helped to make them a better provider.
    Each day, caregivers assist relatives and loved ones with simple tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or handling their finances, to more complicated tasks such as bathing, dressing, administering medications and socializing.
    In Rhode Island, NFCSP funds several programs designed to provide support to family caregivers. In cooperation with our partner, the Diocese of Providence, the respite care program provided much-needed relief to 280 families in 2009. The respite program also offers the caregiver TimeBank program. Under that program, caregivers who volunteer for respite care or other human services programs can accumulate hourly credits for the TimeBank that can be redeemed for respite care services at a later date.
    In cooperation with the Rhode Island Parents Support Network and local YMCAs, Kid Kamp offers recreational and educational programs during the summer and during school vacations to children whose grandparents are their primary caregiver. Nurse case managers help caregivers cope with the issues of care giving and Alzheimer’s caregiver support programs are also funded under the NFCSP.
    While almost all caregivers view their work as compassionate and rewarding, they often experience significant stress and challenges in their day-to-day chores. To cope, caregivers need support and encouragement to maintain their own physical and emotional well-being. That’s where the NFCSP can lend a hand. NFCSP offers a range of services that include information for caregivers about available services, assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services, respite care and supplemental services that bolster their care giving efforts.
    n addition to those resources, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these caregiver survival tips:
    • Plan ahead.
    • Take one day at a time.
    • Accept help.
    • Get enough rest and eat properly.
    • Be good to yourself.
    • Learn about available resources.
    • Develop contingency plans.
    • Make your health a priority.
    • Make time for leisure and relaxation.
    • Share your feelings with others.
    Taking care of you is just as important as taking care of an older relative or an adult with a disability. Getting organized, making a plan, knowing what support is available in your community and paying attention to your well-being will make you a better caregiver.
    For more information on the NFCSP, go to www.aoa.gov. The telephone number is (202) 619-0724. E-mail inquiries can be directed to aoainfo@aoa.hhs.gov.

    Corinne Calise Russo is the outgoing director of the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs.