A new source of help for family caregivers
Separately, those three words evoke loving feelings of selfless support. Put together -- family caregiver -- and the phrase can take on a whole new meaning.
Family caregivers do indeed provide selfless support, often lovingly. But for the estimated 650,000 unpaid family caregivers in
Author and caregiver advocate
Medication manager, housekeeper, personal shopper, cook, patient advocate, bill payer, appointment maker, driver, financial adviser and private nurse are just some of the responsibilities caregivers take on as their parents age.
"In the beginning, people may not even realize how it's changing," said Martha Rañón, director of government and community affairs for the
"They'll say, 'Sure, I'll pick up the prescription, I'll get the groceries Mom, I'll mow the lawn, don't worry about it.' And before you know it, they're more and more involved.
"Then they're on a treadmill," Rañón said. "Day in and day out, and they have no idea how to get off. It's a lot of hard work."
But how can caregivers learn about everything that's out there and access what they might need in one, convenient, trusted place?
That's where caregiverSD.com comes in. A new initiative from
"Caregiving is one of the great challenges in our community right now," said
"Our aim is to help people with clear, reliable information from trusted sources," Light said. "This initiative isn't focused on news, per se. But it is an important part of our public service mission.
"We believe that quality information improves lives and builds a better community. That is our goal with caregiverSD."
Whether you're a caregiver just getting started, or a long-time caregiver in need of specific advice, visitors to caregiverSD.com will find easy-to-follow information and explanation, resource lists and how-to's on a wide variety of topics, such as:
* senior health needs
* aging-in-place and housing options
* meal delivery programs
* transportation services
* hiring help
* finances and estate planning
* benefits and insurance
* stress and self-care
* understanding dementia
* resources for military caregivers
* how to get the time off you need
Many of the local experts the U-T relied on to shape our content will also help us kick off caregiverSD.com's official launch on Saturday at the CaregiverSD Community Expo. This all-day event at
Speaker's include:
*
* UC San Diego caregiver researcher Dr.
*
*
Providing insight and inspiration will be
Saturday's expo will also give caregivers and friends access to exhibitors from dozens of caregiving-related organizations, services and businesses.
According to a study conducted by
The study, "Caregiving in the
Nearly half of the caregivers interviewed reported high emotional stress.
"We want to make sure that people understand that caregiving is not sprint, it's a marathon and you're in it for the long haul," Southern Caregiver's Rañón said. "Just just like a marathon, you have to train and it's hard work."
That's why caregivers need to reach out for help -- to friends, relatives, organizations, paid services and others, she said.
"There is so much out there, and you might not need it all, but it's good to know in case you do need it one day," Rañón said. "You always have to be in the know, these are the resources, here's where you can get help.
"For this marathon, you need a running buddy."
The U-T hopes caregivers will think of caregiverSD.com as their running buddy.
Twitter: @sdeditgirl
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