Maryland Caregivers Support Coordinating Council

• Click here to view or download the Proclamation.
• Click here to download the Press Release.
• Council Members

  
  
  Elizabeth Weglein, Chair
  MD Respite Care Coalition, Inc.

  Carol S. Allenza, J.D.
  Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) for Children’s Mental Health

  Merle Smith, LCSW-C
  Social Services Administration
  MD Dept. of Human Resources

  April V. Seitz, LCSW-C
  Office of Adult Services
  Social Services Administration
  MD Dept. of Human Resources

  Mary D. Johnson
  FHA-Center for Maternal and Child Health
  MD Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene

  Kelli M. Cummings, LGSW
  MD Dept. of Disabilities

  Joan Smith, LCSW
  Child and Adolescent Division
  Mental Hygiene Administration
  Eastern Shore Hospital Center

  Patricia S. Sollock, MA, LCPC, CCHP
  Community Member

  Terri Williams
  Eldercare Affairs Division
  MD Dept. of Aging

  Lynn Hewitt Towle
  Community Member

  Laleh Alemzadeh Hancock
  Community Member

  Carolyn B. True
  Frederick County Area Agency on Aging

  Brooke Kaiser
  Easter Seals of Greater
  Washington-Baltimore Region

  Sequaya Tasker
  MD Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene
  Developmental Disabilities Administration

  Connie Marth
  Delmarva Community Services, Inc.

  Ginger Miller
  Community Member

  Rhonda Ulmer
  Community Member

  Dorinda A. Adams, LGSW
  MD Dept. of Human Resources
  Staff to the Council

Although these incredible individuals tend to identify themselves as spouses and partners, parents, siblings, daughters and sons, or friends doing what anyone would do to help a loved one, National Family Caregivers Month is also an opportunity to have them recognize themselves as caregivers and the importance of establishing support systems for their role.

The following selected caregiver statistics, provided by the Family Caregiver Alliance, offers more information on caregivers and reveal trends regarding the characteristics of caregivers in the U.S.

• 65.7 million Caregivers, almost one‐third of the U.S. adult population, play the caregiver role in households across America providing care to someone who is ill, disabled or aged.
• An estimated 16.8 million unpaid caregivers provide care to a child with special needs under the age of 18
• An estimated 66 percent of caregivers are female, one-third (34%) takes care of two or more people.
• While caregivers are found across the age span, the average age of caregivers is 48 years; about 51% of caregivers are between the ages of 18 and 49
• Many caregivers of older people are themselves older adults. Of those caring for a person age 65 plus, the average age of caregivers is 63 years with one third of these caregivers in fair to poor health. (1)

The main reasons people need care are old age (12%), Alzheimer’s disease (10%), mental/emotional illness (7%), cancer (7%), heart disease (5%) and stroke (5%). Increasingly, the study reports, there is a use of prescription medication for adult care recipients. However, the list of illnesses/problems for which children need care is quite different. It is led by ADD/ADHD, autism, mental/emotional illness and developmental delay/intellectual disability. Caregivers of children provide the most time‐intensive care. (2)

Caregivers offer a range of services including emotional and spiritual support, assistance with financial matters, transportation, home, and many health-related services. (3)

Family caregivers provide an estimated $450 billion worth of uncompensated care to loved ones annually. (4) In addition, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, unpaid family caregivers will likely continue to be the largest source of long-term care services in the U.S.

Rosalyn Carter said it best: “There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers”.

In order for you, as a caregiver, to continue to provide for your loved one’s needs it is important for you to appreciate, and feel okay, about taking the time necessary to get your own physical, emotional, and spiritual needs met as well.

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(1) National Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiving.org/pdf/research/CaregivinginUS09Release12309.pdf
(2) National Alliance for Caregiving: http://www.caregiving.org/pdf/research/CaregivinginUS09Release12309.pdf
(3) Family Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiver.org/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2466
(4) AARP Public Policy Institute, “Valuing the Invaluable: The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving, 2011 Update.”

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Maintaining your own health is essential to managing your role as a caregiver.

“Research has shown that caregivers have poorer physical health than non-caregivers, with an estimated 17 to 35 percent of family caregivers perceiving their health as fair to poor. Family caregivers face chronic health problems of their own and health risks, such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, poorer immune function, slower wound healing, impaired self-care, sleep problems and fatigue, increased use of psychotropic drugs, and even death among highly stressed spouse caregivers.”(5)

“Stress or mood swings rock everyone’s balance from time to time. However, when too much stress, anxiety, depression, or worries interfere with your health, career or personal relationships, it’s time to make a change. No matter how difficult things seem, by learning to harness overwhelming stress and gain emotional awareness, you can bring yourself into balance and have a more positive effect on those around you. You can also turn to friends and family members for both practical and emotional support. Throughout the caregiving process, make sure to take care of yourself. When you’re healthy, calm, and focused, you’ll be a better caregiver.”(6)

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(5) AARP Public Policy Institute, “Valuing the Invaluable: The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving, 2011 Update.”
(6) http://www.helpguide.org/toolkit/emotional_health.htm, “©Helpguide.org. All rights reserved. Helpguide.org is an ad-free non-profit resource for supporting better mental health and lifestyle choices for adults and children.”

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Some ways to calm down quickly when feeling overwhelmed:

Take a Breath

Take a Walk

Take a Mental Break

Utilize Social Media Resources

Advocate For You and Your Loved One

“Family caregiving is hard and it always will be, but it doesn’t have to be quite as hard as it currently is. Family caregivers need to fight for their civil rights and the accompanying education, services, financial assistance and responsive healthcare system needed to overcome the problems our families confront.” (9)

The best way to provide the caregivers the support and resources they require to care for their loved ones is to bring awareness of the needs and challenges of caregivers to federal and state legislators. Call, e-mail, or mail U.S. state and federal elected officials and government agencies by visiting http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml. (10)

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(9) National Family Caregiver Association, https://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/improving_caregiving/public_policy_issues.cfm
(10) National Family Caregivers Association: http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/caregiver_advocacy/

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Surround Yourself with Support

Seek out other caregivers, locate support in the community (religious/non-profits/neighborhood/etc.), and learn what is available to you and your loved one through government support.

Sometimes caregivers who are used to having to do it all for others, do not feel comfortable asking for help for themselves. It is a sign of being resilient that caregivers know when to ask for, and seek help when needed. Support can come in many forms, including formal, and some less traditional ways. Sometimes it may be seeking respite, or other government services or support groups, or it could be just asking a neighbor or friend (informal supports) to be available so you can go shopping alone, take a nap, or to do something that allows for a creative outlet you have always enjoyed (these are examples of “mini-respites” that are generally low, or no cost, easier to take advantage of, and based on individual caregiver design and need). Another form of support is the kind provided oneself in the form of stress management, being mindful of how you are feeling and reacting to events, and finding some reasons every day to express joy, humor, and optimism.

What can you do to recognize caregivers during National Caregivers Month? Sample ideas to celebrate caregivers in November and throughout the year are listed below:

• Recognize caregivers in your family, organization, and in the community. Host a get-together to honor caregivers in your family and/or community.
• Offer respite time to a family caregiver so they can spend time with friends, a hobby, or simply to relax.
• Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
• Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
• Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
• Offer comic relief! Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them music or an electronic version of a book.
• Encourage your faith community to ask for prayers not only for those who are ill, but also those who care for them.
• Attend local town hall meetings and ask your representative what she or he is going to do to promote legislation that will help businesses develop more family-friendly caregiver policies.
• Send an e-card to a caregiver. (sample free ones are below)
  • AoA
  • Empowering Caregivers
  • Willow Green
• Post on Facebook that November is National Caregivers Month and encourage your network to acknowledge caregivers in their families and communities.
• Tweet about the importance of caregivers and resources available to caregivers. Below are organizations and programs that offer information and services to caregivers. (11) (12)

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(11) Administration on Aging (AoA) http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/Social_Media/Widget/Statistical_Profile/2011/10.aspx
(12) National Family Caregiver Association http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/national_family_caregiver_month/top_10_ways_to_celebrate.cfm

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MARYLAND RESOURCES

Maryland Caregivers Support Coordinating Council: The purpose of the Council is to coordinate statewide planning, development, and implementation of family caregiver support services.

Maryland Respite Care Coalition, Inc.: MRCC is a statewide organization that advocates the need for Respite Care Services for all caregivers.

Maryland Access Point: A tool to assess resources, learn information, and search for long-term support and services throughout Maryland.

NATIONAL RESOURCES

AARP Caregiving Resource Center: AARP provides tools and tips on how to succeed as a caregiver.

ARCH National Respite Network: Assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs in the United States, helps families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities, and serves as a strong voice for respite in all forums.

AARP: Public Policy Institute: The Public Policy Institute informs and stimulates public debate on the issues we face as we age. The Institute promotes development of sound, creative policies to address our common need for economic security, health care, and quality of life.

Caregiver.com: Caregiver Media Group is a provider of information, support, and guidance for family and professional caregivers.

Caregiving Library: Provides information and tools for caregivers and seniors.

Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support: Supports and services the Veterans Affairs offers Family Caregivers.

Eldercare Locator: This website links caregivers and older adults to local area agencies on aging and other local organizations that provide assistance on elder care.

Family Caregiver Alliance: Family Caregiver Alliance is a public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face by offering them the assistance they so desperately need.

Family Caregiving 101: Provides assistance, answers, new ideas, and advice for the caregiver and their loved one.

Health Guide: Provides access to unbiased and reliable information in Mental Health, Healthy Lifestyles, Children and Family, and Aging Well to provide hope and direction.

Lifespan Respite Care Program (LRCP) Congress authorized this program in 2006 through the Lifespan Respite Care Act. This program seeks to expand and enhance respite services in states.

National Center for Benefits: BenefitsCheckUp helps the caregiver access information and enroll in public and private benefits programs.

National Family Caregiver Alliance: The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers, and speaks up for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness, disability or the frailties of old age.

National Family Caregivers Association: Educates, supports, empowers, and speaks up for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age.

National Family Caregiver Support Program: (NFCSP) This program provides numerous services including information to caregivers on available services, individual counseling, organization of support groups, caregiver training, and respite care.

Strength for Caring: Johnson & Johnson Strength for Caring is a comprehensive website designed to provide family caregivers with a broad range of expert content and information, an emerging on-line community, daily inspiration, and much needed support. It also provides a Caregiver App (CareConnector) to track insurance information, health care provider, emergency contacts, prescription history, and treatments.