Caregiver Assistance
Caregiving involves providing assistance to another individual who is ill, disabled, or elderly and frail. Many times caregiving involves helping someone with physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs.
In the United States, family and friend caregivers provide approximately eighty percent of all care. Caregivers play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence. As the population ages, so will the demand for caregivers.
Even though caregiving is rewarding, it can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of the caregiver. Caregiving has its greatest impact on the emotional health of caregivers, particularly the caregivers of persons with dementia and stroke, who are at the highest risk for depression and anxiety disorders. The Area Agency on Aging is committed to helping caregivers through educational programs, in-home services, and resource availability.
Helpful Links:
www.cfad.org – this website can assist those that are caring for a loved one from a distance.
www.caregiver.com – provides information, support, and guidance to caregivers.
www.caregiveraction.org – this website provides information on caregiving.
www.caregiverslibrary.org - this website offers information on caregiving.
www.projectlifesaver.org – global tracking device for those who suffer from memory disorders.
Alabama Cares
Alabama Cares is a program designed to support family caregivers by providing training, assistance, and resources to help them take care of their aging loved ones and themselves. Alabama Cares strives to keep families together and to allow seniors to age at home instead of in costly long-term care facilities.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) was established in 2000 under the Older Americans Act. It provides funds to states and territories based on their share of senior citizens. Alabama created the Alabama Cares Program, which offers support for caregivers across the state by providing services through five basic areas:
Information: provides public education, caregiver and provider training, health fairs, newsletters, brochures, and audio/visual/written caregiver information
Assistance: provides outreach, case management, assessment, and information regarding resources.
Counseling: provides support groups and training to assist and advise in areas of health, nutrition, financial literacy, and the role of caregiving.
Respite: provides temporary, substitute support of the care recipient to provide a brief period of relief/rest to the caregiver help with personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, and skilled or unskilled services in the home.
Supplemental Services: incontinent supplies provided through a limited basis.
Alabama Cares is a program for CAREGIVERS. Unlike traditional services our client is NOT the one in need of assistance, our client is the one providing care to the one in need.
Eligibility Requirements for the Alabama Cares Program are as follows:
Unpaid Primary Caregiver of frail, older adults age 60 or older, or of any age if caring for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
Grandparents/relative Caregiver, age 55+, caring for children ages 18 and under or caring for children any age with a severe disability.
For referrals or questions please contact the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 205-333-2990 or 1-800-AGE-LINE.
This program is funded in part by the Alabama Department of Senior Services and Title III of the Older Americans Act.
A sliding fee scale is used to determine the client's shared cost of certain services. Cost sharing judgments are made based on the care recipient's income. If the care recipient's income falls below the national poverty level, the client is not expected to pay anything for the services. In any case, contributions (donations) are accepted by the Area Agency on Aging for all programs.
Alabama Cares Older Relative Caregiver Program
Eligibility:
• An Older Relative Caregiver (age 55+) caring for child or children age 18 and younger
• An Older Relative Caregiver (age 55+) caring for child or children with a severe disability
• * Priority* shall be given to grandparents or older individuals who are relative caregivers providing care for children with severe disabilities.
Terms:
• Child - An individual who is not more than 18 years of age.
• Older Relative Caregiver - a grandparent, step-grandparent or other relative of a child by blood or marriage, 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 parent/parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child
* C. Has a legal relationship to the child, such as legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally
Income:
***This program is not income based - however cost share and donations are accepted.
5 Service Categories:
• A. Caregiver Information- Provide public and individual with information on resources and services available.
• B. Caregiver Access Assistance- Assist grandparents in obtaining access to the service and resources available within their community. This service links individuals to the services and opportunities that are available within their community.
• C. Caregiver Education- Counseling/education to Grandparents to assist them in making decisions and solving problems relating to their grandparent role.
• D. Caregiver Respite- * Grandchild must live with Grandparent/relative caregiver to qualify for this service* Offer temporary, substitute support or living arrangements for child in order to provide a brief period of relief or rest for grandparent caregiver.
• E. Caregiver Supplemental Service- * Grandchild must live with grandparent/relative caregiver to qualify for this service* Services provided on a limited basis to complement the care provided by grandparent/relative.
For referrals or questions please contact the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 205-333-2990 or 1-800-AGE-LINE.
Caregiver Support Groups
Support groups are held for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease, other dementias, and any other illness your loved one is facing. These groups provide vital links to other caregivers and an opportunity to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and other illnesses. Members of a support group usually share their personal experiences and offer one another emotional comfort and moral support. They may also offer practical advice and tips to help you cope with your situation.
Current group meetings:
**Coordinated by West Alabama Area Agency on Aging
Fayette County
**Fayette Church of Christ
809 2nd Ave. NE
Fayette, AL 35555
205-932-4003
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 2:00 P.M.
Hale County
**Greensboro DHR
906 Wheelan St.
Greensboro, AL 36744
205-371-2252
Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 2:00 P.M.
Pickens County
Dementia with Grace at Aliceville Manor Nursing Home
703 17th St. NW
Aliceville, AL 35442
205-373-6307
Meets 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:00 P.M.
Tuscaloosa County
Alzheimer Support Group
Regency Retirement Village
5001 Old Montgomery Hwy.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
205-752-5527
Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Amazing Caregiver Support Group at Bethel Baptist Church
3003 25th St.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
205-758-2108
Caring Days Adult Daycare: Mal & Charlotte Moore Building
943 31st St. E.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Contact LaDerrick Smith
205-752-6840
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 2:00 P.M.
Caregiver Cafe Lunch & Learn at Morning Pointe
1801 Rice Mine Rd.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
205-345-1112
Meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at noon.
Caring Hearts
First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa
721 Greensboro Ave.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
205-394-3474
Meets every Spring & Fall on Wednesdays 10-11:00 A.M.
Tuscaloosa Parkinson's Support Group
Fellowship Hall at First Christian Church
627 Paul Bryant Dr.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
205-246-9652 or 256-760-7877
Meets 3rd Sunday of each month at 2:00 P.M.
For more resources and information on the latest research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia’s, please visit:
