- What is the Family Caregiver Support Program?
- The Importance of Supporting Family Caregivers
- Resources Available through the Family Caregiver Support Program
- Family Caregiver Support Program Contact Information
- Educational Materials
- Skagit and Whatcom County Caregiver Resources
What is the Family Caregiver Support Program?
The goal of the Family Caregiver Support Program is to provide support and services for unpaid family caregivers in Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.
Caregiver support has long been an important focus in our region. Programs such as Senior Information & Assistance, Respite Care, Adult Day Services, and Caregiver Training have all provided tremendous help to people caring for their loved ones at home.
Developed by the Northwest Regional Council, the region’s Area Agency on Aging, the Family Caregiver Support Program provides additional relief and assistance to unpaid family caregivers, including Personal Caregiver Survey, Caregiver Resource Libraries, Caregiver Information Booklets, Kits, Caregiver Consultants, and more.
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The Importance of Supporting Family Caregivers
Families have always been, and continue to be, the primary source of help to those with long-term care needs. In fact, it is estimated that family and friends are the sole source of assistance for nearly 75 percent of our nation’s impaired seniors.
Caregivers represent all gender, age, and ethnic groups. They are wives, husbands, daughters, sons, neighbors, and friends. They cook meals, wash clothes, administer medications, and provide companionship. Without them, many people with long-term care needs would either be in costly institutions or would live in isolation and at high risk.
Yet most family caregivers have little or no training and minimal support. They often have financial difficulties, lack information on caregiving skills, and can experience feelings of isolation and depression. The Family Caregiver Support Program provides outreach and education to these caregivers by building upon our community’s existing supports and services.
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Resources Available through the Family Caregiver Support Program
Caregiver Fact Sheets provide practical information related to aging and eldercare.
Caregiver Information Booklets provide educational materials on a variety of topics, including Alzheimer’s/dementia, stroke, depression, and self-care. They are provided free of charge, and can also be downloaded from the Internet.
Caregiver Kits provide a collection of practical caregiving information, as well as material to encourage you to take care of yourself, because we know caring for someone can be stressful. These kits are available in English, Russian, Spanish.
Caregiver Resource Libraries are located throughout the region. Materials available for checkout include a comprehensive selection of books, videos, and periodicals. For information on library locations and materials, contact your local Family Caregiver Support Program. Please see list below for contact information.
Personal Caregiver Survey
The first step in the caregiver screening and assessment process is filling out a Personal Caregiver Survey. The Personal Caregiver Survey asks you to reflect on your experiences and rate your response to a series of statements based on identified rating scales in each section. You can print a copy and fill it out by hand or type your answers in the Survey on your computer. If you fill the Survey out on your computer, print it out once you’re done. You will need to make arrangements with your caregiver specialist (see contact information below) to get him or her a copy of your completed survey.
Family Caregiver Support Specialists and Caregiver Resource Coordinators in each county help caregivers find reference materials, coordinate services, and provide follow-up support.
Tribal Kinship Care provides outreach and support to elder relatives raising children within Native American communities. The program assists elders with finding legal services and developing support groups.
Caregiver Consultants are available to provide in-home training and support, custom tailored to the needs of the individual caregiver and care recipient. Consultants include nurses, occupational therapists, nutritionists, and counselors throughout the region.
Respite Care provides a break for caregivers who need to be away for anywhere from a few hours to two weeks. Care is provided by qualified professionals, and may be provided in the home, in a nursing facility, in an assisted living facility or through an adult day service program.
Training is available for interested caregivers. Training can be arranged for various needs, from Fundamentals of Caregiving to Alzheimer’s Disease training.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six session educational program for family caregivers that provides tools for increasing self-care, communicating with health care professionals, and for dealing with and finding solutions to difficult situations. Classes are provided in various locations through out this region.
Senior Information & Assistance provides information on programs that assist older adults and their loved ones. Staff can also assist with applications and referrals. Information & Assistance services are provided on the phone, at their office, or in your home.
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Family Caregiver Support Program Contact Information
For more information on the Family Caregiver Support Program, contact:
Island County
Camano Island: 360-387-6201
Coupeville: 360-678-4886
Oak Harbor: 360-675-0311
South Whidbey: 360-321-1600
San Juan County
Lopez, Shaw, Center, Decatur: 360-468-2421
Orcas, Blakely, Waldron: 360-376-2677
San Juan, Brown, Henry, Stuart: 360-378-2677
Skagit County: 360-428-1301
Whatcom County: 360-676-6749