You’re a caregiver… Now what?
Care is one of the most common responsibilities we share in life. Whether it’s caring for a child, an aging parent, or a disabled family member, more than 105 million people in the U.S. provide care. But caregiving often happens unexpectedly, leaving us to navigate new and unfamiliar roles with little to no preparation. Building a plan and knowing where to go for support can make your important role as a caregiver more manageable.
You can start by exploring expert advice on caregiving and aging or consulting the caregiver’s handbook from the National Institute of Health.
To further help you on your caregiving journey, we’ve put together this list of helpful supportive resources.
Accessing aging care
Looking for aging care or support for an aging family member? There are resources available to help caregivers and your family to make sure you have the right supports and services.
- The U.S. Administration on Aging offers resources for finding services for older adults. You can also reach the program at 800-677-1116.
- Get help connecting with benefits, including programs that help pay for health care, medicine, food, utilities, and more.
- Look into ways to make your home more accessible and comfortable for an aging adult.
- Find and compare home health providers so you can hire the best in-home care support for your situation.
Accessing disability care
If you or someone in your life are newly disabled – or if you’re caring for a disabled person for the first time – there are resources to help support you and guide you through options for caregiving:
- Find government agencies and nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to disabled people in the U.S.
- Get familiar with your state’s specific resources and how you can access them.
- Answer a few questions and find out which federal benefits you may access by using this tool by the U.S. Government.
Accessing child care
Child care can be overwhelming – both in terms of cost and finding the right care for your family. And chances are, you may be one of the 11 million sandwich caregivers caring for an older family member and your kids at the same time. But you can find resources to help, like:
- Local and state resources for child care, including health and social services, financial assistance, support for children with disabilities, and more.
- Guidance for sorting through childcare options in your area, and how to find quality care
- Financial assistance options if you need help paying for high childcare costs
Finding community
You’re not alone in this. It’s so important to find community, and support groups can help. A support group can be a great source of comfort and help you face caregiving challenges.
- First, try to figure out what kind of group you’re looking for.
- Then, look through options for caregiver support groups online or in person.
Our care movement
We all have care in common. And we deserve a care system we can depend on. At Caring Across Generations, we’re fighting to make that possible.
