Who is a caregiver?

 According to the Roselyn Carter Institute, more than 40 million Americans provide care for adults and children who cannot care for themselves. Whether helping an aging parent, a seriously ill spouse or child or some other special person in need, those giving care often do so at a great personal sacrifice of time, energy and income. The emotional stress can be tremendous,too. Yet it is not just the family caregiver who is often overwhelmed. Many healthcare professionals today face enormous challenges trying to cope with an unwieldy patient load in an increasingly strained health care system.

Generally, family members do not categorize themselves as “caregivers” - they are simply doing what any devoted daughter, son, or spouse would do for a loved one.  Consequently, they don’t seek out vital help and respite. The reality is that often family members serve as constant caregivers and provide 80% of the care for older adults and people with disabilities in Virginia. Though not always, the typical family caregiver is a woman between age 35 and 60, often caught up in traditional life functions such as raising children and working full or part-time. When that person finds themselves filling the concurrent role of caregiver for a family member with health issues, the excess burden brings on stressors that impact their own health, relationships, and financial and work status. 
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Aging Together, through our vision of making our communities age friendly, recognizes the necessity of finding resources that support caregivers, both professional and family members. Our goal is to update this website consistently and to offer programs, resources, and respite that reduces the burden of caregiving for everyone. Please check in regularly and contact us if you have questions or need additional help. 

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Caregiver Educational & Informative Programs

Aging Together partners with organizations and professionals to offer relevant programs and seminars (or webinars) that serve to educate or assist both family and direct-care caregivers, as well as offering general interest topics. 

Upcoming Programs

Past Recorded Programs

Resources​

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS & WEBINARS
Join a group to hear how others are dealing with challenges of caregiving. Check back for more support groups once the pandemic has subsided.

 HELPFUL ARTICLES
There is a lot of information out there to help with caregiver stress, burnout, and coping tools, along with ideas and hints about working with a loved one living with a chronic desease or dementia. Click on the button at right to view a list of helpful articles on many topics related to caregiving. New ones are added regularly.

DEMENTIA SPECIFIC HELP
Visit our Dementia Support page for more helpful resources specific to this topic.

Caregiver Support Groups

Articles for Caregivers

Dementia Support

RESPITE HELP
The Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program (VLRVP) provides reimbursement vouchers to Virginia caregivers who resides full-time, in the same household as the person receiving care, for the cost of temporary, short-term respite care provided to individuals, of any age, with a documented disability or special need. Connect to their website with the button at right for more information. 

CONCERNS ABOUT ELDER ABUSE OR EXTORTION
If you are aware of any kind of abuse to older adults either at home or in a group home atmosphere,  you can get help. 

FRIENDLY VOICES
You can request that someone make a "friendly" call to your loved one. Trained volunteers from AARP call and help reduce feelings of isolation and being alone. Click on button at right for more info and to request a call. Or call  1-888-281-0145 and leave a message for someone to call back.  

Virginia Lifespan Respite Program

Elder Abuse Info

AARP Friendly Voice

CAREGIVING RESOURCE PHONE LINE
Caregivers can also get additional information about caregiving topics from the AARP Resource Phone Line. They don't give out advice, but they offer resources that offer help for many topics and questions. 
Click on button at right for more info or call directly: 1-877-333-5885. For help in Spanish: 1-888-971-2013

AARP Caregiver Resource Line