Elder Caregiver Resources
Guides
- About Alzheimer's Disease: Cargiving. National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral Center.
- Caring for a Person With Alzheimer's Disease. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging
- End of Life - Helping with Comfort and Care. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging.
- Caregiver Stress. Mayo Clinic.
- Taking Care Of Aging Parent, Mental Health America website.
Resource Organizations - Massachusetts
Boston ElderINFO
617-292-6211
Boston ElderINFO assists elders, disabled individuals and their families in accessing a comprehensive range of services that address health care needs.
The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care
617-222-7512
http://www.endwithcare.org/
The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care was established in 2001. The mission is “To improve the quality of life at the end of life.” They are committed to promoting public, professional and institutional awareness around end of life issues and fostering professional and consumer education to improve end of life care. The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care produced the Massachusetts Resource Guide for End of Life Services. The online version of the guide includes a searchable database of providers, organizations and agencies.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness - Massachusetts (NAMI - MASS)
781-938-4048 / 800-370-9085 (Massachusetts)
www.namimass.org
Maintains a helpline for information on mental illnesses and referrals to local groups. The local self-help groups have support and advocacy components and offer education and information about community services for families and individuals.
Support and Educational Groups: Meetings take place at Newton Wellesley Hospital, Bowles conference room. Free and all are welcome. For information call 617-244-9833.
- Family Support Groups for Care Givers: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:00pm
- Education Meetings: 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:30pm
Springwell, Inc.
617-926-4100
www.springwell.com
A private, not-for-profit organization that provides a wide variety of home care services to enable senior citizens remain in their own homes as long as possible. Services include homemaking, personal care, case management, home-delivered meals, and adult day health. Volunteers are available to delivering meals, take seniors to doctors appointments, grocery shop, or spending time talking with a senior. As a Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), Springwell provides eligible seniors care advice and home care services through the Commonwealth's State Subsidized Home Care Program. A Springwell Care Advisor conducts a in-home assessment, in consultation with a nurse, to determine program eligibility. Also Handles Protective Services investigations. Also provides caregiver support to those caring for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Care Advisors will visit with caregivers to help them understand what is going on, to review available options and to learn how to best manage the social service and health care networks.
Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc.
www.elderlifeplanning.com
450 Washington Street, Suite 108
Dedham, MA 02026
781-461-9637 / 800-375-0595
Provides health, social and functional assessments to determine individual needs and services. An elder care professional can conduct an assessment of a family's situation and create a comprehensive care plan that addresses medical, emotional, financial and legal needs. Services include care planning and care management: arranging and monitoring home and community care, assisted living, nursing care facilities and caregiver support. The web site provides information regarding community/social service resources and a free information kit, “When A Parent Needs Help: How to Put Together an Elder Care Plan That Makes Sense for You and Your Family.”
Mature Caregivers
www.maturecaregivers.com
204 Second Avenue
Waltham, MA
(888) 320-6700 support@maturecaregivers.com
Based in Waltham, but available across the U.S., Mature Cargivers offers in-home eldercare from certified providers age 50+. Services include basic personal care, medication assistance, and help with dementia.
Resource Organizations - National
Aging with Dignity - Five Wishes
Aging with Dignity is a national non-profit organization with a mission to affirm and safeguard the human dignity of individuals as they age and to promote better care for those near the end of life. Five Wishes is a living will that is written in everyday language and helps start and structure important conversations about care in times of serious illness.
Family Caregiver Alliance/ National Center on Caregiving
www.caregiver.org
415-434-3388 / 800-445-8106
A website that provides a public voice for caregivers. It includes, information, education, services and advocacy to support the work of caregivers.
National Alliance for Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a non-profit coalition created to support family caregivers and the professionals who serve them. This web site provides caregiving tips, publications, resources, a list of events, and more.
National Family Caregivers Association
The NFCA exists to support family caregivers and to speak out publicly for caregivers’ needs. The NFCA espouses a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and see caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals.
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development
The Rosalynn Carter Institute promotes the mental health and well-being of individuals, families, and professional caregivers; promulgates effective caregiving; and advances policies that enhance caring communities.
VA Caregiver Support
Services for Family Caregivers of Post 9/11 Veterans
These websites offer several support and service options designed for caregivers of Veterans.