Caregivers are the family and friends who voluntarily take care of older persons in our community. Caregiver Services helps family members, friends and neighbors who are caring for older adults living in our community. The program helps caregivers with both practical needs and with the emotional demands of caregiving. If you help an older person pay bills, manage medications, shop, cook, clean, or if you provide personal care, transportation or emotional support, you are a caregiver. To learn more please review the Caregiver Service Brochure by clicking here. 

Caregiver Services provide:

•    Consultations by phone, in our office, or in your home to help you understand local services and connect with programs.
•    Workshops and educational events to provide support, education and connections with other caregivers. Information shared is relevant to the caregiving experience and needs such as:

• Homecare options
• Level of care issues
• Health Care Proxy & Power of Attorney discussions
• Educational seminars on Alzheimer's and dementias
• Services for Veterans
• Plus many more!

•    Caregiver Information included in the monthly Senior News publication offering event schedule, tips, and practical advice. Click here for the latest issue of the Senior News. 
•    Caregiver Respite Program gives caregivers a break from the demands of caregiving. This service requires a full Caregiver Assessment and ongoing case management. Review our Respite Options publication by clicking here. 
•    Caregiver Chats are support group for caregivers giving them the opportunity to share experiences with other caregivers and learn about caregiver issues;
•    Caregiver Resource Center: You can loan these items out or enjoy the quiet Caregiver Library at the center located at 2801 Wayne Street in Endwell. Call 607-785-3427 for more information. 

Do you provide unpaid care to a family member, friend, or neighbor who has an illness, disability, memory loss, injury, or special need? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are a caregiver! Are you feeling overwhelmed, constantly worried, tired, sad, easily irritated, and/or extremely stressed? You are not alone and there is support available. If you would like to learn more about resources, tools, and supports available for caregivers, please answer the following questions to get connected to the right starting place. 

1.    Are you over the age of 18 and caring for an older adult (age 60+)?

2.    Are you over the age of 18 caring for an individual (any age) with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder (e.g., dementia, traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, chronic traumatic encephalopathy)?

3.    Are you over the age of 55 and living with and caring for a child (not biological) under the age of 18?

4.    Are you over the age of 55 and living with and caring for an adult (can be a biological child) aged 18-59 with a disability?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are eligible for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The goal of the NFCSP is to support family caregivers so they may continue to carry out their caregiving roles and responsibilities. The program can provide services such as caregiver counseling, information and assistance, caregiver training, respite care (a break from caregiving), and much more. If you would like to learn more about how this program can assist you, please contact Office for Aging Caregiver Services at 607-778-2411. 

If you answered no to all the questions above, or you are not interested in taking the evidence-based screen, there is still help available to you through the Any Care Counts - New York (ACC-NY) Campaign which recognizes and supports the millions of unpaid caregivers across the state! Through ACC-NY you can discover your caregiver intensity score by taking the ARCHANGELS Caregiver Intensity Index (CII). It takes just 2 minutes to complete. You will find out whether you are “in the red," "yellow" or "green," and be connected to trusted resources.  

Do you prefer to search resources on your own? Visit the NY Connects Resource Directory by clicking here. NY Connects links individuals of all ages and their caregivers to long term services and supports and provides one stop access to free, objective, comprehensive information and assistance.
 

Caregiver Resources:

• Changing Places: Should Your Parents Move in with You
• Hiring the Help You Need
• Personal Emergency Response System Resource
• Respite Care Options in the Greater Binghamton Area
• Support Groups for Older Adults and Caregivers

Caregiver Links:

• Today’s Caregiver www.caregiver.com
  Provides support and information on caring for the elderly
• Well Spouse Association www.wellspouse.org
  For husbands, wives and partners of those with chronic illness or a disability
• Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers www.rosalyncarter.org
• Family Caregiver Alliance www.caregiver.org
  A Public voice for caregivers
• Caregiving Blog newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com
  Jane Gross from the New York Times shares her story about caring for her late mother
• Lotsa Helping Hands www.lotsahelpinghands.com
  A website where caregivers can create a calendar to coordinate services for the care receivers. A free services that keeps busy schedules organized. 
• The Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org
  The leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research

The Caregiver Services Program is supported by a grant from the Administration on Community Living, New York State Office for Aging, and Broome County. Contributions are accepted to help support this program. All contributions are confidential and voluntary and no one is denied services due to an inability or unwillingness to contribute.

To make a contribution, please send checks or money orders to Broome County Office for Aging, PO Box 1766, Binghamton, NY 13902