Caregiving

A caregiver may help prepare meals, pay bills, do personal care, manage medications, and assist with, or make, major life decisions. If you are a caregiver, there are many community services available to help you gain confidence and cope with new responsibilities. These resources will help you examine options, create a plan for caregiving tasks and maintain balance in your life.

Caregiver Consultant

A caregiver consultant can help you maintain life balance, learn new skills, and gain confidence and stamina for providing care. Consultants can help identify the caregiver’s strengths and needs, as well as develop a plan and set goals. See a list of consultants in our region.

Caregiver Education

Education available to caregivers includes training on managing your risk factors, (e.g. stress and depression), family dynamics, managing difficult behaviors, and navigating health and long-term care systems. You’ll gain knowledge needed to make decisions, solve problems, and feel more confident with your caregiving role.

Trualta is a personalized, skills-based training platform for family members caring for aging loved ones living at home.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a class series that supports caregivers in taking care of themselves while caring for someone else.

REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health), is a nationally proven support, education, and skill building consultation for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.

PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives) is a treatment program designed to reduce symptoms of depression and improve quality of life among older adults.

The Diverse Elders Coalition offers modules to support caregivers from all communities.

Being a caregiver for a person living with dementia presents unique challenges. The federal government is committed to making every day better for people with dementia, their caregivers, and their families.  Alzheimers.gov

Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia.

Minnesota ACT on Alzheimer’s communities are working on the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  Together they create a supportive environment for people living with cognitive issues and their families.

Caregiver Support Groups & Memory Cafés

Support groups for caregivers offer a variety of things including education, community resources, emotional support, and networking. Most groups meet regularly in-person while some are held virtually.  These informal gatherings are for those whose lives are directly or indirectly affected by the caregiving needs of another.

Call Senior LinkAge Line to find a caregiver support group available in your community for various diseases and conditions or click here to find an Alzheimer’s/dementia support group.

The term Memory Café is used to designate a social gathering place for both the caregiver and their loved one. It is a welcoming place for individuals with Alzheimer’s, any type of dementia, or mild cognitive impairment. It is a safe, comfortable, and engaging environment for socializing, listening to music, playing games, or any variety of stimulating activities.

To find these and other caregiver services in your area, call Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433