Caregiving is an admirable job, but over time the task can become daunting. Fortunately, there are private and public agencies you can reach out to for assistance, including:
- Home health care agencies that can provide part-time or 24-hour care
- Adult day care centers
- Respite services that can provide a caregivers much-needed periodic breaks
- Services delivered to the home, such as meals programs, home repair and transportation
- Personal care and homemaking services such as cooking, cleaning and shopping
Medicaid and Medicare may only partially cover the medical portion of home health care. When combined with other resources available to the older person and their family, however, it could be enough to enable him or her to delay moving into a nursing home much longer. Visit the Eldercare Locator Website at www.eldercare.gov or call their toll-free number to find Area Agencies on Aging in your area. Your local Agency on Aging can connect you with various support groups and organizations in your area who provide assistance and support to caregivers.
