Caregiver Support

You are NOT alone about 80% of caregiving in the home is done by family.

Family members caring for a loved one with dementia are at high risk for exhaustion and caregiver burnout. It’s the leading cause of elder abuse. Learn ways to take care of yourself or you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. Know when it’s time for long term care.

Caregivers often become ill from the stress of caregiving. Make sure your own health records include that you are a caregiver for someone at home. This information will alert your hospital staff that your loved one may need urgent help at home.

Ways to Avoid Exhaustion and Burnout

• Take time to do something for yourself every day.
• You don’t need to do everything yourself.
• Ask for help in specific ways-meal preparation, household chores or maintenance.
• Take care of your own health, eat healthy, and exercise.
• Learn about the disease process so you know what to expect.
• Join a support group- in person, online or by phone.
• Don’t take frustration, anger or difficult behavior problems personally.
• Use Adult Daycare, Home Care, or Respite.

Caregiver support groups offer a helpful place where caregivers can share their experiences and help solve caregiving challenges. Studies have shown that Caregiver support groups improve the quality of life for caregivers and delay long term care placement for care recipients.

Caregiver support groups by Organization:

ALS Association

Alzheimer’s Association of RI Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias

American Cancer Society call 1-800-227-2345 for locations near you

RI Cancer Support Groups & Resources for Survivors

American Cancer Society Caregiver Support Videos

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD)

Brain Tumor Association

Hope Health Grief Support Group

National Kidney Foundation

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Lewy Body Dementia

LGBTQ Aging Center

LGBT Support Groups and Social Services RI & MA

Mended Hearts support for heart disease patients & families

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS)

Parkinson Disease Association of RI (RIAPDA)

SAGE RI -Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders

VA Caregiver Support

Caregiver Support Groups in Connecticut

Caregiver Support Groups in Massachusetts

Respite

Respite care is planned or emergency care for individuals over the age of 60 when the caregiver needs a break.

The Diocese of Providence offers the CareBreaks Respite program, which can be used occasionally or at a scheduled time when a caregiver needs help. The CareBreaks program can send help into the home or arrange participation in a day program or overnight in an assisted living or nursing facility. The Diocese of Providence also offers a variety of other programs that assist Seniors in their home.  You do not have to be Catholic to receive services.

Jewish Family Services of Rhode Island offers the Partners in Care program. The caregiver or the care recipient must have some connection to the military community. Even a long-ago deceased relative or in-law who was a service member, qualifies families throughout Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. The Partners in Care program offers up to 10 hours per week of FREE respite care.

First Sunday Respite is a FREE program for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. Caregivers can drop off their loved one to enjoy entertainment and activities in a safe supervised environment.

First Sunday respite is offered on the first Sunday of the month at the following locations: