According to the Centers for Disease Control, by 2030 there will only be four potential family caregivers per adult, compared to seven today. The statistics magnify the need to provide support and resources for the impact on caregivers. ElderSource – Aging and Disability Resource Center for Northeast Florida, is working to meet the needs of this important group of individuals. ElderSource offers an array of resources and programs that specifically support caregivers.
The Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral Program (TCARE) is designed to support family members at risk for burnout. Caregivers are interviewed by a Care Connector to identify stressors and then a care plan is created to help them address the root causes of burnout. Initially funded by Florida Blue Foundation and bolstered by a grant from the Humana Foundation, TCARE has been a boon to many caregivers where their needs are assessed, followed by the development of a personalized plan to help reduce burnout and connect them to resources to best meet their needs.
The positive comments from participants were overwhelming.
“Thank you for your help and guidance through this journey. I know we’re not done by any means but I’m celebrating all wins we encounter and this was a win. The hardest part is not knowing what the future holds. My goal is despite my brother’s challenges, I want to make sure he is able to live the remainder of his life with dignity, and your caregiver support program really helped me and my brother.”
— Marie M., a TCARE client caregiver
The Virtual Caregiver Support Group, established prior to the pandemic, is a safe place for caregivers to share information, ask questions and voice personal feelings with other caregivers who are “walking the same walk.” The support group, which meets weekly, has proven to be an invaluable resource for those who participate.
Giving caregivers the guidance and resources to be the best caregiver they can be is the goal of the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program. With funding from the American Recovery Act, Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an evidence-based program of six classes held once a week that provides participants the tools needed to succeed in their caregiving journey. Last year, thirty people completed the program.
ElderSource is also the lead agency managing the Caregiver Coalition of Northeast Florida, a partnership of leading health care, aging and senior service organizations who work together to provide caregivers with resources and support from the agencies who can help them. The Coalition offers virtual workshops and in-person events. Workshop topics have included valuable information on respite care, legal preparation for caregivers, caring for a loved one with dementia and more. Recorded workshops can be found on CaregiverCoalition.org.
Finally, ElderSource is an advocate for older LGBTQ adults and presented a series of recorded workshops — Age Your Way — that focus on the necessary decisions and resources needed by LGBTQ older adults to age well, including caregiver support. All five of the workshops can be found on the ElderSource website at MyElderSource.org.
For any information about ElderSource resources:
Call the Helpline at 1-888-242-4464
Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm
The offices are located at:
10688 Old St. Augustine Road
Jacksonville, FL 32257
Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio
