Dr. Steven Mickley Community Health Resource Section of the Greenwich Hospital Medical Library: Caregivers

Caregiving Organizations

• Caregiver Action Network
  The Caregiver Action Network is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age.
   
• Family Caregiver Alliance
  Long recognized as a pioneer in health services, Family Caregiver Alliance, FCA supports and sustains caregivers with national, state and local programs and resources.
   
• National Alliance for Caregiving
  The National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focused on improving the lives of family caregivers. Alliance members include grassroots organizations, professional associations, service organizations, disease-specific organizations, government agencies, and corporations.
   
• National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC)
  National Transitions of Care Coalition is a group of concerned organizations and individuals who have joined together to address problems associated with transitions of care: the movement of patients from one practice setting to another.
   
• Well Spouse Association
  The Well Spouse® Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization, advocates for and addresses the needs of individuals caring for a chronically ill and/or disabled spouse/partner.  We offer peer to peer support and educate health care professionals and the general public about the special challenges and unique issues "well" spouses face every day.
   
• Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
  "The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving establishes local, state, national, and international partnerships committed to building quality, long-term, home and community-based services. We believe this begins with providing caregivers with effective supports to promote caregiver health, skills and resilience. We also believe strongly in the need to provide greater recognition for professional and family caregivers. We focus on helping caregivers coping with chronic illness and disability across the lifespan."
   

Government Resources

• Administration for Community Living (ACL)
  All Americans—including people with disabilities and older adults—should be able to live at home with the supports they need, participating in communities that value their contributions. To help meet these needs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created a new organization, the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
   
• Connecticut State Department on Aging
  The mission of the State Department on Aging is to empower older adults to live full independent lives, and to provide leadership on aging issues on behalf of older adults, families, caregivers, and advocates.
   
• New York State Office for the Aging
  The mission of the Office for the Aging is to help older New Yorkers be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development and delivery of person-centered, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective policies, programs and services which support and empower older adults and their families, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations which serve them.
   
• Eldercare Locator
  The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services.
   
• LongTermCare.gov
  The Administration for Community Living, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, brings together the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging, the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the HHS Office on Disability to serve as the federal agency responsible for increasing access to community supports, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities across the lifespan.

General Caregiving

• What Are the Caregiver's Rights? (PDF)
• What Is Caregiver Burnout? (PDF)
  American Heart Association
   
• Medication Management for Caregivers
  National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
   
• AARP: Caregiving
  AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families — such as health care, employment and income security, and protection from financial abuse.
   
• CardioSmart: For Caregivers
  Cardio Smart is "the patient education and empowerment initiative brought to you by the American College of Cardiology. [Their] mission is to help individuals prevent, treat and manage cardiovascular disease.
  [They] are committed to providing visitors [...] with accurate, un-biased information in an advertising-free environment. [They] hope you enjoy visiting [...] and find it a useful extension of your relationship with your cardiologist."
   
• National Caregivers Library
  The National Caregivers Library was created by FamilyCare America, Inc. and is one of the largest single sources of information and tools for caregivers and seniors in the country. It makes it resources available to caregivers for free through alliances with professionals, businesses and other organizations who serve seniors and their caregivers with a variety of products and services.
   
• Today's Caregiver Magazine
  The first national magazine dedicated to family and professional caregivers. It is published by Caregiver Media Group, which has been developed for caregivers, about caregivers, by caregivers. Content topics include nutrition, pharmaceutical, financial, home safety, new technology options, insurance, home care, medication breakthroughs and incontinence management. Each issue also features a cover interview with a well-known celebrity caregiver.
   
• Caring Today
  Recommended by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, who writes that Caring Today is a "leading provider of practical advice and knowledge for family caregivers since 2004, Caring Today has addressed the needs of America's 50 million caregivers with expertise, understanding and answers, through its quarterly national magazine and this website.
   

Caring for Alzheimer's

• Alzheimer's Association: Caregiver Center
  The Alzheimer’s Association works on a global, national and local level to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
   
• National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer's Caregiving
  Learn how to respond to changes in communication and behavior, provide everyday care, and get help when needed..

Caring for Cancer

• CancerCare: Caregiving
  Founded in 1944, CancerCare® is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer.
   
• Help for Cancer Caregivers
  Help for Cancer Caregivers is a unique collaboration of organizations with a shared goal of improving the health and well-being of the people who care for people with cancer. This website was created by Anthem, Inc., CancerCare, Caregiver Action Network, Indiana University, Michigan State University College of Nursing, and the Anthem Foundation.