I Need Your Suggestions for the Church to Help Caregivers

Yesterday I wrote a post on one of my other blogs, Your Ministry Helper, challenging the church to step up ministry efforts to their aging members and caregivers.  One of my suggestions was the gift of time.  I would like to follow-up that post with some definitive suggestions that the church can put in place. If you are a primary or full-time family caregiver, you know how important a few hours of free time is appreciated.  You also know there are more ways to relieve some of the stresses of caregiving.

I need your help to make additional suggestions on ways the church can help/minister to family caregivers.  Right now I have help from my husband, daughter and a few friends from my church.  But I am well aware that everyone is not so fortunate.  Some of you are former caregivers who know caregiving challenges and needs.  Some of you have been caregivers much longer that I have and can add valuable insight for the church.

I welcome suggestions from everyone, even those who have no value for the church.  Your input is valuable and I appreciate it.

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Notes from Medicare Family Caregiver Webcast

On September 18th I watched the live webcast sponsored by Medicare and the National Family Caregiver’s Association that launched their new service, Ask Medicare. According to them, the purpose of this website is to “help caregivers get answers to their most common questions.”

Ask medicare includes a new web page and e-newsletter for caregivers. The newsletter is free but won’t be available until November. The site has tools to help caregivers address common problems and points to other resources and support.

Four Key Content Areas: 1) Help with Billing, 2) Navigating Medicare that includes how to enroll in drug and health plans, 3) Care Options that includes comparisons for hospitals and nursing homes and 4) Getting Help – finding support close to home and other caregiving resources.

Why Ask Medicare was launched:

• to acknowledge and support the people who take care of their disabled or elderly family members or friends
• to help caregivers find the information they need to take care of their loved ones
• people need accessible, credible information to make informed health care decisions
• build relationship with caregivers by providing them with information and assistance that they need to both help the person that they care for and themselves
• to make it easy for family caregivers to find out about programs, services and benefits they can access for their loved ones and themselves
• link to a variety of support tools developed by the Administration on Aging and other organizations

Other Resources

• AARP - Prepare to Care, which is good for family members and employers to start planning to get ready to have conversations with other family members
• Johnson & Johnson – links to health condition organizations, local organizations, AARP and many Medicare publications and articles on autism and Alzheimer’s.
• Federal Government’s Eldercare Locator – 1-800-677-1116 for people uncomfortable with the internet.
• National Caregiver’s Support Program – provides services and information for caregivers.

This is just some of the information that was included in the one hour webcast.  Most of what you see here was taken directly from the webcase and condensed.  I have visited the website and it is quite informative.  If you are a caregiver or know someone who is a caregiver or will become one soon, please pass this information along to them.

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