Getting started as you take care of a family member or friend​  

​

• AARP — See the five steps to take as you begin caring for a family member. Download the family caregiver guide that’s full of helpful checklists and definitions. Available in multiple languages. 
  https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/

• Atlas of Care — Learn how to make a simple diagram showing the overall picture of where you give or get help, support, and advice as you care for a family member or friend.
  https://atlasofcaregiving.com/caremap/

• The Conversation Project — Get a free guide to help you start difficult conversations about what types of health care someone wants and doesn't want, especially toward the end of life. There's also a version for talking to health care team members and more. 
  https://theconversationproject.org/

• AARP — Get helpful information on a wide variety of topics, including medical, financial, and legal aspects of family caregiving. 
  https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/

   

Getting paid to care for a family member

• AARP — There are limited options for getting paid to provide care for a family member, including Medicaid and veterans support. But new options are emerging, so research what's available in your state.
  https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/info-2017/you-can-get-paid-as-a-family-caregiver.html

​

Finding local resources

The types of services that can help family caregivers manage care at home include these:

​

• Nursing care, also known as home health care (such as giving medications and cleaning wounds)

• Home care (non-nursing care such as household chores, errands, companionship, personal care, and medication reminders), delivered meals, respite, transportation, emotional and spiritual support, screenings, and help navigating the healthcare system and managing healthcare paperwork

• Physical therapy (to help with movement) and occupational therapy (to help perform daily activities)​

 

To find those types of services near you, visit these websites:

​

• Family Caregiver Alliance — Click on your state to find local resources for family caregivers.
  https://www.caregiver.org/

• ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center — Use the National Respite Locator to find someone who can take over your caregiving responsibilities for hours or days, so you can get a much-needed break.
  https://archrespite.org/respitelocator

• Eldercare Locator — Enter your zip code or a topic to find assistance in your community for older adults and family caregivers. 
  https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx

• AARP's Family Caregiver Resource Guides — Find many types of caregiving assistance and services in your state.
  https://feeds.aarp.org/caregiving/local/info-2021/state-caregiver-resources.html?_amp=true

​

Finding a local nursing home

• Medicare.gov — Compare Medicare-certified nursing homes near you based on the quality of care they provide and their staffing levels. The nursing homes include those that provide rehabilitation services. A nursing home is an option for someone who can't be cared for at home and needs 24/7 nursing care.
  https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/?redirect=true&providerType=NursingHome

• Mass.gov — See the steps to choosing a nursing home, and use the Nursing Home Survey Performance Tool to see information about Massachusetts nursing homes complaints. Other states may have similar resources.
  https://www.mass.gov/guides/choosing-a-nursing-home
        

Medicaid Waivers

• Medicaidwaiver.org — Learn how Medicaid can help people receive long-term care at home or in the community rather than in a nursing home or hospital. 
  http://medicaidwaiver.org/​   
   

Managing family caregiver stress

• Office on Women's Health (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) — Read about the stress of caregiving in a fact sheet outlining the signs, symptoms, and management of family caregiver stress.
  https://owh-wh-d9-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/documents/fact-sheet-caregiver-stress.pdf

• CaregiverStress.com — Find worksheets that help you manage the many aspects of caregiving. If the person you're caring for has dementia, give the Dementia-Related Behaviors Chart to his or her doctor. http://www.caregiverstress.com/senior-safety/health-information- management/senior-emergency-kit/worksheets-checklists/

​

Family caregiving skills, products, and support

• Caregiving Pathways — For help with any aspect of family caregiving, schedule a free 30-minute consultation. 
  https://calendly.com/beth-75/one-to-one-support?month=2021-10&date=2021-10-19

• The Caregiving Years Training Academy — Learn skills, techniques, and strategies to help you care for a family member and formalize your role as a family caregiver through the Certified Family Care Manager training. https://www.careyearsacademy.com/cfcm/pilot/

• Smart Caregiving — Find products created by and for family caregivers plus round-the-clock telephone or email support. 
  https://smart-caregiving.com/

 

Hands-on care: Managing medications and caring for wounds

• AARP — Find time-saving tips on managing multiple medications.
  https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2017/medication-management.html

• AARP — See videos for family caregivers on caring for wounds, treating pressure ulcers, maintaining ostomy bags, and more. 
  https://www.aarp.org/ppi/initiatives/home-alone-alliance/

 

COVID-19 resources for family caregivers

• AARP — Download an overview called Preparedness for Caregivers during COVID19.

• University of Michigan — See a selection of COVID-19 resources for patients and families.

​

Learning about health conditions

• U.S. Office on Women’s Health (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) — Find information on dozens of health topics. Much of the information is not just for women. 
  https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/

• The Office of Minority Health (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) — See information on health issues common to African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Latinas, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and more. Language assistance is available for many languages. 
  https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content.aspx-?ID=146&lvl=1&lvlID=3

 

Information on managing a hospital stay

• Caregiving Pathways — If a family member is in the hospital or you worry that a health crisis may occur, download a free family caregiver guide to managing the hospital stay. 
  https://www.caregivingpathways.com/the-hospital-stay

 

Information on aging

• National Institute on Aging — Learn how a geriatric care manager can help with an older family member. 
  https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-geriatric-care-manager

 

Safety at home

• Life Alert — Use this medical alert system to summon help for anyone having a home health emergency. 
  http://www.lifealert.com/

• PillMap — Use this companion to your traditional weekly pill organizer as a visual guide to make sure medications are correct.
  https://pillmap.com/

• Parentgiving — See simple steps to increase safety at home, in the car, and beyond.
  https://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/50-safety-tips-for-seniors/

 

Online tools that help coordinate information and tasks

• Caring Bridge — This site acts as a central coordination hub for you and your family and friends. 
  https://www.caringbridge.org/

• Doodle — Scheduling family meetings is so easy with this site. 
  https://doodle.com/

• Lotsa Helping Hands — Set up a Help Calendar and send the link to people who ask how they can help. You can list things like providing a family meal, giving a ride to a doctor appointment, or scheduling a visiting time. 
  https://lotsahelpinghands.com/

• eCare21 — Long-distance caregivers can use this app and a wearable smart device to monitor a loved one’s heart rate, glucose levels, and other health data.
  https://ecare21.com/

• Medisafe — Use this app to monitor medications, see side effects to look out for, and more. Doctors can use the app to connect with patients. 
  https://medisafe.com/

 

Managing Medicare

• Medicare.gov — Learn how Medicare works. 
  https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/your-medicare-coverage-choices/whats-medicare

 

Managing hospice

• Medicare.gov — Learn how hospice care works and how it can improve quality of life and length of life.
  https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/what-part-a-covers/how-hospice-works

 

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health and Substance Use

• Southeast Addiction Center — Find 50 resources for Black men who are struggling with substance use and/or mental health.
  https://southeastaddictiontn.com/50-addiction-mental-health-resources-for-black-men/

• Lexington Addiction Center — Find an in-depth guide written for Asian American college students.
  https://lexingtonaddictioncenter.com/28-addiction-mental-health-resources-for-asian-american-college-students/

• Southeast Detox — Find extensive mental health resources, including a guide that features more than 50 resources for Black women.
  https://southeastdetoxga.com/black-women-addiction-mental-health-support/

• Prevail Recovery Center — Find extensive resources, including a guide featuring Black LGBTQ+ listings for mental health and substance use support.
  https://prevailrecoverycenter.com/
  https://prevailrecoverycenter.com/black-lgbtq-recovery-resources/

• Centric Behavioral Health — Find abundant resources for the Asian American LGBTQ community.
  https://centricbh.com/aapi-lgbtq-substance-abuse-and-mental-illness-support/

• Drug Rehab USA — Find the Native American addiction treatment center closest to you.
  https://drugrehabus.org/rehabs/treatment/native-american/

• Live Another Day — Find addiction and mental health resources for all.
  https://liveanotherday.org/

 

Veterans information

• Federal Benefits — Learn about government benefits for veterans. 
  https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/2017_Federal_Benefits_for_Veterans.pdf

• Military Caregiver Support — Find resources for military caregivers. 
  https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Portals/23/documents/083016_CaregiverSupportResources2016.pdf?ver=2016-08-30-163523-473

• Respite — Get information on respite relief for military and veteran caregivers.
  https://hiddenheroes.org/respite/

 

End-of-life information

• The Conversation Project — See the Conversation Starter Kit and other tools to help your family begin difficult conversations about the end of life. 
  https://theconversationproject.org/

• International End of Life Doula Association — If you’d like help with an end-of-life vigil, use the registry on this site to locate an end-of-life doula. 
  https://www.inelda.org/find-doula/

• Caregiving Pathways — Before a care plan becomes an end-of-life plan, download our free family caregiver guide to managing the end of life. 
  https://www.caregivingpathways.com/end-of-life-planning

 

Additional resources

• Northern Westchester Hospital — This Northwell Health hospital has a family caregiver center that inspired the creation of many other centers. This site features a diverse list of resources that include a number of blogs for family caregivers. 
  http://nwhc.net/online-resources-for-family-caregivers

• Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving — Discover extensive additional resources.
  http://www.rosalynncarter.org/caregiver_resources/

 

After caregiving ends

• The Caregiving Years Training Academy — Learn how to start a business helping other family caregivers.
  https://www.careyearsacademy.com/transform/

​