Click the link highlighted go to the website. If you find a dead link, please tell me here. Some of the caregiving websites I have included here are for-profit sites that provide paid listings. I don’t see a problem with this if you are aware that there may be nonprofits that provide the same services for less cost. I should note that the assisted living facilities where Frank, my late father-in-law lived his last few years were both for profit facilities that did a fine job.
Maybe the best book on caregiving is Gail Sheehy’s Passages in Caregiving. She was caregiver for her husband and found that she was in uncharted territory. Because of her experience, we have a navigational guide for our journey of caregiving.
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Some useful links to federal programs on caregiving: A good starter for what is available, Administration On Aging. They have a toll-free phone line where you talk to a real person: (800) 677-1116). Medicare, Medicare has a section on caregiving that can be useful. National Alliance For Caregiving is another resource.
There are local programs as well such as: University of Colorado Health Sciences Library’s page on aging. Also in espanol. This one is from the City of Denver: Elder Resource Guide
Local government agencies are for the most part about what I call the nuts and bolts of caregiving. Sometimes these resources can make a tremendous difference. The local Area Agency on Aging is a good starting place. Check your city, county, and Regional Council of Governments websites.
Many churches and other religious organizations are equipped to help. Jewish Family Services is a fine example. Do a search for the site in your area.
For more links to caregiver services in your state visit Family Caregiver Alliance.
A treatment method I have found helpful is Jin Shin Jyutsu. A system of acupressure brought to the U.S. by Mary Burmeister, it can help with many physical disorders and is a system for personal development as well. I use the technique on one patient with an autoimmune disorder that is resistant to conventional medical treatment. It seems to keep the illness to a level that enables the person to live a fulfilling life. Doing the work on another also calms and centers me. I am by no means a skilled practitioner so don’t come to me for treatment.
The New York Times has a blog in the Health section entitled The New Old Age. There are many provocative and useful articles there. Paula Span, who does the blog, has a links section with many online sites.
Jane Gross started The New Old Age and is the author of “A Bittersweet Season” (Knopf, 2011), a fine book on caregiving. Follow her on Facebook: Jane Gross Author.
The Huffington Post runs a blog by Lynn Casteel Harper on aging issues. She is one of a growing number who are challenging the prevailing attitudes about aging and elders. You can subscribe to her posts by going to the link.
Forbes.com has an aging parent care blog by Carolyn Rosenblatt where she relates her experiences as caregiver.
A good health and holistic living resource is Nexus, a bimonthly publication from Boulder CO.
David Kessler, a renowned authority on end of life and grief issues has a fine web site with lots of information and resources.
The Caregiver Partnership has a comprehensive list of resourses and lots of good information.
Learn about Palliative Care here. If your aging parent is experiencing pain or any sort of discomfort, contact your local palliative care agency. Discuss palliative care with your doctor or other health care professional. Don’t wait for a crisis. Palliative care does not mean no agressive medical treatment if your loved one has an emergency.
Learn about Hospice here or here. Invaluable for a patient with a short time to live. Hospice is paid for by Medicare.
Many elders are affected by mesothelioma or asbestosis from exposure to asbestos when they were much younger. For information visit asbestos.com.
As Our Parents Age has lots of good information and links to provocative articles.
http://www.gericarefinder.com/ is another caregiving website that breaks down resources by state.
We had a geriatric care manager for my father-in-law when he was in Florida and we knew he needed some assistance in living independently. She also found a good assisted living home when he could no longer live alone. We could not have done it without her help.
When we started this blog I felt that providing a long list of resources was not part of what we are trying to do. Our main focus is on the personal side of caregiving; how caregiving has altered, enriched, and saddened our lives. I have changed my mind for two reasons. When we became caregivers we didn’t know how to do it. If we had come across a good source for resources it would have made our tasks easier and the lives of our aged loved ones better.
The other reason is a bit more mercenary. We think we have some good stuff here and would like for more people to find us. The search engines like to link to sites with lots of links to other sites and who add to them often, so here are my growing contributions to the cloud of internet linkage.
Great site-so glad I found it! Thanks for what you do, and I like that you mentioned geriatric care managers:-) If we can help with any resources, articles, etc., glad to do so. I write a lot for our sites/blogs and we are happy when people share the resources we offer: http://www.agingwisely.com and http://www.easylivingfl.com. In particular, a lot of sites and organizations share our “care handouts” which are easy, one (or 2) pagers about topics we get asked about frequently: http://www.agingwisely.com/handouts/.
The lobbying blitz by doctors also comes amid concern in Washington that Medicare expenses are spiraling up so fast the country can’t afford to boost it further by significantly raising doctors’ pay. And government analysts and independent experts suggest that although doctors couldn’t absorb a 25 % fee cut, the declare that they have been inadequately compensated by Medicare so far is wildly exaggerated.