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| - | Our Respite Care Program |
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| - | Family Caregiver Support Program |
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Family Caregiver Support Program  This statewide program recognizes the critical role family caregivers play in providing long-term care and helping elders maintain their quality of life. This program strives to develop new models of caregiver support while building on the elder network’s current efforts to support family caregivers.Eligible Population: -Family and adult primary caregivers of older adults 60 years of age or older, or, for certain services, of individuals of any age who have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’ s disease; and -Grandparents and relative caregivers 60 years of age or older of children not more than 18 years of age (including grandparents who are sole caregivers of grandchildren and those individuals who are affected by mental retardation or who have developmental disabilities). The Central Massachusetts Family Caregiver Support Program is a team consisting of a regional coordinator from Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging and three caregiver specialists form Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc., Montachusett Home Care Corporation, and Tri-Valley Elder Services, Inc. The goal of the team is to develop a number of resources geared toward providing education and support to caregivers in the local community. The Elder Care Advisor is also included in this program as another resource for the caregiver.
The Caregiver Specialist helps raise awareness about caregiver needs through outreach, focus groups, and informational forums. Outreach may occur in local businesses, faith communities, and community based agencies. The Caregiver Specialist can provide one on one assistance to caregivers seeking information on resources related to meeting their needs. This may be through support group listings, ways to recognize stress and how to take care of the caregiver. Program information is also available for grandparents raising grandchildren, long distance caregivers and caregivers of those 18 years of age and under with mental retardation or a developmental disability.
 The Caregiver’s Guide explains the avenues of support to be used for the benefit of family members as care providers. Education and support are intended to enable readers to better maintain their own emotional and physical well being while meeting the needs of an elder. Programs are better explained to help caregiver and elder alike understand the often-complex array of services.The Caregivers’ Guide contains new “tear-out sections that will assist caregivers in looking at living costs, managing medication, and assisting in keeping important documents in order.
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