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A helping hand
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Caregiver
assistance plans being developed
The load may be
lightening for Minnesota family caregivers this
year.
Thanks to an
infusion of $1.87 million in federal money through
the recently reauthorized Older Americans Act,
Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging have re-sources
to add or expand education and assistance programs,
and respite services for caregivers. Most of the new
services should be implemented by this summer to
improve the availability and quality of family care.
"These
services will be caregiver focused," said Jane
Vujovich, community services specialist for the
Minnesota Department of Human Services. "Family
caregivers are a valuable, yet vulnerable
resource." While past initiatives have focused
on care for needy older persons, "these
services help family caregivers and address their
needs," she said.
What those new
services will be will depend on where you live. Each
area agency on aging is developing its own plan
based on the existing services, needs, cultural
aspects, preferences and unique circumstances of the
area, Vujovich said.
"What’s
happening in Duluth could be a little different than
what’s happening in Rochester," she
explained. "Each program will be tailor-made
for family caregivers in the area." Main themes
of the new services will be information and
assistance, respite care and caregiver education.
Parallel to all of
that, the plans are being dovetailed with the
long-term care reforms being initiated across the
state.
"If it’s a
family goal to keep someone at home, we want to
allow people more choices on their living
arrangements. If people are still living at home
with the help of a family caregiver, that will delay
their entry into a nursing home or some other living
arrangement," Vujovich said.
Common threads to
the care-giver services will include:
- Education – It’s
intended that more formal education workshops
will be held to help prepare and coach people
with the tasks of caregiving, and not just as
caregivers begin their work, but ongoing. One
way to meet that goal is the start of an e-mail
list-serve MN-SHARE-the-Care. By becoming a
member of the list, caregivers can e-mail
questions, comments and establish links with
other caregivers. To subscribe, send an e-mail
to [email protected].
Leave the subject area blank. In the body, type
"subscribe mn-share-the-care."
You’ll receive a return message saying
you’ve been added to the list. If you have
questions, call the MBA at 1-800-882-6262 or
651-282-3783.
- Ongoing support
– Agencies want to build new and stronger
bonds with caregivers after doing initial
assessments, Vujovich said. Along with that,
more work will be done to help caregivers use
the support system, whether it’s through
churches, clinics, employers, senior nutrition
sites or neighbors.
- Building
services – As more and more people become
caregivers, there will also be more need for
respite programs, allowing the caregiver time to
have some free time. Building and expanding
community volunteer programs will be a vital
part of that effort, along with broadening the
sites and ways respite can be found. Expanding
the role Medical Assistance plays in caregiving
could open more choices to caregivers.
How can you get
plugged into the new caregiving services in your
area? Calling the Senior LinkAge Line® is the
starting point (1-800-333-2433). Staff members there
will be familiar with current and new caregiving
services and how you can access them.
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