Care Givers

Who is a caregiver?

A caregiver may be an adult family member or another individual providing care for an older adult. Or, a caregiver may be a person sixty(60) years or older who is providing care for a grandchild under the age of eighteen(18). A caregiver may be a 73 year old man who is providing care for his wife who has suffered a stroke... or a 30 year old woman who is assisting a frail elderly neighbor... or a 42 year old man who is providing care to his father who has Alzheimer's disease... or a 60 year old grandmother who has to raise her grandchildren.

Did you know:

• There are 25 million caregivers in the United States.
• In Illinois, over 200,000 children are being raised in grandparent-headed homes.
• One our of four households nationwide is involved in Caregiving for someone aged 60 or older.
• Caregiving cuts across age, income, education, gender, class, and ethnicity.

What services are available to Caregivers?

Caring for someone is rewarding, but it is also a difficult and stressful job. We are here for you.

• Caregiver Resource Center
• Respite Care
• Home modification
• Assistive devices (wheel chairs, canes, etc.)
• Home-delivered meals
• Assistance with housework
• Transportation
• Legal and Financial services
• Assistance paying for Prescription Medications
• Adult Day services
• Caregiver Support Groups
• Training, counseling, and emotional support.

Respite Care

Temporary relief for caring for an older adult with physical or memory problems. Services include homemaker, adult day services, and nursing home care.

The Internet

In addition to many helpful caregiver websites currently available, you can use the computers in the library.

Library

Our resource library has a variety of brochures, books, and tapes for loan.

Am I a Caregiver?

Do I:

• Provide regular emotional or physical assistance,(such as helping with lifting, or helping someone move from a bed to a chair), to my spouse, parent, neighbor, adult child, or friend?
• Help a senior pay bills?
• Shop or do errands for a senior, or drive a senior to the doctor?
• Remind a senior to take pills or provide help with personal care?
• Regularly prepare meals or clean house for a senior?