Help for Solo Caregivers: Four Resource Areas / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Do you feel completely alone in your caregiving journey? No family backup, friends have faded away, and you can’t afford professional help? You are not alone — and there is real help available, often at little or no cost.

We are Elizabeth Miller of Happy Healthy Caregiver and Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster of The Caregiver's Journey. In this podcast we’ve joined forces with - together we’ve lived it, learned from it, and made it our mission to walk alongside family caregivers. We’re sharing four key resource areas that can provide real relief without breaking the bank.

Think about the analogy of a frog in water. If a frog jumps into boiling water, it immediately jumps out. But if the water starts lukewarm and slowly heats up, the frog doesn’t realize the danger until it’s too late. That’s how burnout works for caregivers — especially solo caregivers with fewer helping hands. The average caregiver is in this role for four and a half years. For dementia family caregivers, it can stretch to ten years or more. You can do it alone for a while, but not indefinitely. Here’s where to turn.

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/podcast/

Additional Resources Mentioned

• Happy Healthy Caregiver website: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/
• Area Agency on Aging Finder: https://eldercare.acl.gov/home
• Lifespan Respite Voucher Program: https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/respite-voucher-programs/apply-for-state-lifespan-respite-voucher-programs/
• Veterans Administration office locator: https://www.va.gov/find-locations/
• Elizabeth Dole Foundation Respite: https://hiddenheroes.org/resources-online-education/respite/
• Medicare Guide Program Eligible: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/guide/faqs#ben-cgs
• Medicare Guide Program locator: https://bit.ly/4n3uArv
• Dementia Support Group finder: https://www.alz.org/event-search?category=Support+Groups
• Virtual Support Group: daughterhood.org
• Adult Day programs - ask your Area Agency on Aging to help find one:  https://eldercare.acl.gov/home
• National Adult Day Services Finder: https://www.nadsa.org/locator/
• Dementia Adult Day Programs Finder - choose Community Service: https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/
• Dementia Friendly America's Memory Cafe Directory: https://dfamerica.org/memory-cafe-directory/
• The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast on Palliative Care: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/42-when-to-call-in-palliative-care-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/
• Seth Rogan and his wife Lauren HFC respite grants: https://wearehfc.org/care-grants/
• Home Instead grant application: https://www.homeinstead.com/home-care-services/alzheimers-dementia-care/HFCgrant/
• Memory Board - HHC10 saves 10% at checkout: https://memoryboard.com/?utm_source=happyhealthycaregiver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=promo_page
• Care Yah-Ya: https://www.careyaya.org/ 
• Papa companion care: https://www.papa.com
• Zinnia TV: https://www.zinniatv.com/
• Vivo Virtual Exercise: https://teamvivo.com/
• Singing at Home - Bridgetown: https://www.bridgetownmt.com/singingathome#section-1704859821310
• Dementia Minds support groups for people living with dementia: https://dementiaminds.org/ncdm-groups/
• Cognitive stimulation therapy: http://Newdays.AI
• Dementia Care Service finder - choose are at home or housing options: https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/
• Alzheimer's Association emergency respite grants - call 800.272.3900:   https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/care-options/respite-care
• The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast 26 Emergency Plan: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/are-you-ready-for-an-emergency-get-a-plan-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-other-dementias/
• The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast 33 Care Plan: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/33-how-to-create-a-care-plan-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/

Read More in This Blog

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/65-help-for-solo-caregivers-four-resource-areas/