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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
Sandwich Generation
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If you aren’t already assisting an older adult, there’s a good chance that you will sometime in the future. According to a 2004 study by the National Assistance for Caregiving and AARP, an estimated 21% of the U.S. population or 44.4 million people provide care to a friend or family member age 18 or older. Nearly 8-in-10, or 79%, of the care recipients are 50 and older, with the average age being 75. The responsibility can be difficult in itself, more so if you happen to be among the Sandwich Generation and still have children living at home. There are a number of organizations that can help, whether through education or direct services. Here are six resources to keep close at hand. 1. The Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County Chapter offers support programs and services to individuals who have dementia and their families. In addition to an array of related information, including warning signs, treatment options, stages of the disease and more, the nonprofit agency offers support groups for caregivers and a family orientation program. A 24-hour helpline provides further assistance. Be sure to check out its “Maintain Your Brain” program, which offers steps on ways to maximize your brain health and reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. 2. The Council on Aging Orange County is a nonprofit agency that serves older and dependent adults and their families. Among its services: •HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy) This program provides free education seminars, individual counseling and limited legal assistance with Medicare and other insurance plans. •Linkages Not sure what type or amount of assistance your loved one needs? Case managers will perform a comprehensive in-house daily living needs assessment, then connect clients to appropriate community service providers. 3. Eldercare Locator is a must-have resource for adult children whose parents and/or grandparents live out of the area. The agency provides referrals to Area Agencies on Aging via zip code locations. It also can advise caregivers about many eldercare issues and services available in local communities. 4. The Orange Caregiver Resource Center, a program of St. Jude Medical Center, offers a number of services to help Orange County families cope with the physical, emotional and financial responsibilities of caregiving. Services include information and referrals, free family consultation, support groups, family counseling, a respite program and more. It addition, its Caregiver Library offers a collection of more than 5,000 articles, books, pamphlets, videos and journals on all aspects of caregiving and brain impairment. 5. The Orange County Office on Aging, which is funded by the government, is the designated “Area Agency on Aging.” Its information and assistance line is staffed Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Walk-ins are also accepted. The agency provides information on a number of services, including adult day care, home modifications, housing, legal services, senior centers, transportation and more. An online “Guide to Services” directory allows visitors to search the database by category, keyword name, area served or location. 6. The National Family Caregivers Association, committed to improving the overall quality of life of caregiving families, receives hundreds of inquires a week from family caregivers seeking resources, referrals and advice. Its website includes information on frequently asked questions. Most helpful are its “Tips & Guides” section, which helps caregivers deal with the emotional and practical sides of caregiving, and the “Education & Support,” which provides information on specific disease, conditions and symptoms. Sandy Bennett is managing editor of OC Family Magazine. Contact informationAlzheimer’s Association, Orange County Chapter 17771 Cowan, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614 800.272.3900 www.alzoc.org Council on Aging Orange County 1971 E. 4th St., Suite 200 Santa Ana, CA 92705-3917 714.479.0107 www.coaoc.org Eldercare Locator National Association of Area Agencies on Aging 927 15th Street, NW 6th Floor Washington, DC 20005 800.677.1116 www.ekdercare.gov National Family Caregivers Association 10400 Connecticut Ave., Suite 500 Kensington, MD 20895-3944 800.896.3650 www.nfcacares.org Orange Caregiver Resource Center 251 E. Imperial Hwy., Suite 460 Fullerton, CA 92835 714.578.8670 www.caregiveroc.org Orange County Office on Aging 1300 S. Grand Ave., Bldg. B Santa Ana, CA 92705 800.510.2020 www.officeonaging.ocgov.com |
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