Your Support Network

Caregiving for an older person typically begins with small tasks, such as rides or errands, and can become increasingly complicated and time-consuming as the person ages and/or experiences health problems. 

With the availability of new information and resources, caregiving for an older person need not only fall upon the person geographically closest, the daughter, the take-charge child or spouse, or the one with the strongest emotional ties.  Caregiving often involves many family members who are challenged to discuss tough issues and find ways to work cooperatively.  Consider holding a family meeting to talk about the caregiving job.  

Today, caregiving takes a solid network of community support, good information, and a variety of services to help keep the caregiver intact as an individual and a provider of care.