On November 13, 2000, President Clinton re-authorized the Older American’s Act, creating the national Family Caregiver Support Program. This new program was developed in response to the growing caregiver population, now at 54 million people nationwide. This program has new ways of looking at aging services; serving family members caring for an individual over the age of 60, or a grandparent (or relative) over 60 caring for a grandchild less than 18 years of age. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides guidance and funding to all states for the implementation of services to caregivers, providing five core areas of service: Information, Assistance, Counseling/Support and Training, Respite and Supplemental.
The Western Massachusetts Caregiver Support Program consists of five agencies: Highland Valley Elder Services, WestMass Eldercare, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Greater Springfield Senior Services and Franklin County Home Care Corporation. Each of these Aging Service Access Points are developing caregiver support services with their own “unique flavor”. Each will share the two-fold common principle of specialized staff, known as Elder Care Advisors, to link caregivers to services and resources, and secondly through enhancements to the “system” with the expansion or creation of programs serving caregivers through grants to community organizations.
Currently, many creative new programs have been developed, including:
- Lunch and Learn programs in the work place
- Flex accounts to subsidize specific caregiver needs
- In-home companion respite services
- Consumer-directed care services, which allow caregivers to hire their own care assistants
- Specialized “Mapping Software” allowing caregivers to search for formal and informal services, in the time and place that is convenient for them through internet access
- Specialized in home services including depression screenings and caregiver assessments
- Various support groups and trainings for specific caregiver situations
- Grants to expand the hours of Adult Day Care, friendly to the working caregiver
The Caregiver Support Program is improving the lives of caregivers throughout Massachusetts. As a region, we are in a position to share best practices together, as well as identify community organizations currently providing services to caregivers. Contact your local Aging Service Access Point for information about caregiver support programs in your area.
Tom McMullen, Regional Coordinator
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