"I’m looking for respite services, whom should I contact?" "Are there Caregiver Resources on the Internet?" "Where can I find financial help for my Caregiving?" "I'm looking for overall Caregiver support. Where can I find it?" "Where can I find information about caring for my aging parents, and related family issues?" "How do I go about locating home care help or an assisted living or nursing facility?" "How do I find training to improve my caregiving skills and how do I learn skills to help me cope better with the stresses of caregiving?"

"I’m looking for respite services, whom should I contact?" NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS Easter Seals 230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60606 1-800-221-6827 web: www.easter-seals.org email: info@easter-seals.org Provides a variety of services at 400 sites nationwide for children and adults with disabilities, including adult day care, in-home care, camps for special needs children and more. Services vary by site. Family Friends National Council on the Aging, Inc. 409 Third Street, SW Washington, DC 20024 202-479-6675 or 202-479-6672 web: www.ncoa.org email: miriam.charno@ncoa.org Provides respite for families of children with special needs by men and women volunteers over the age of 50. Programs located throughout the country - with 47 centers and over 2000 volunteers. Interfaith Caregivers Alliance (ICA) One West Armour Street, Suite 202 Kansas City, MO 64111 1-816-931-5442 web: www.NFIVC.org email: NFIVC@aol.com Provides respite support and a variety of other services through local congregations working together. Services vary by site. There are currently 1300 programs throughout the country. Shepherd’s Centers of America One West Armour Street, Suite 201 Kansas City, MO 64111 1-800-547-7073 web: www.shepherdcenters.org email: staff@shepherdcenters.org Provides respite care, telephone visitors, in-home visitors, nursing home visitors, home health aides, support groups, adult day care, and information and referrals for accessing other services available in the community. Services vary by center. There are currently 75 centers around the country.   REFERRAL SOURCES National Association of Adult Day Services National Council on the Aging 409 3rd Street SW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20024 202-479-6682 web: www.ncoa.org Provides information about locating adult day care centers in your local area National Respite Coalition 4016 Oxford Street Annandale, VA 22003 703-256-9578 web: www.chtop.com/NRC.htm email: jbkagan@nrc.com They provide a list of states that have respite coalitions. These state coalitions then list respite services available in their state for children with special needs. National Respite Locator Service 800 Eastowne Drive, Suite 105 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 800-773-5433 web: www.chtop.com/locator.htm Lists over 1900 sites nationwide, all of which focus on respite care for families of special needs children. TOP OF PAGE

"Are there Caregiver Resources on the Internet?" CAREGIVER WEBSITES: There are a variety of web sites that offer information and support for family caregivers. Many of these sites offer the ability to type in a zip code and obtain a list of local resources for home care, respite care, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, hospice and other types of care. To locate other sites, type "FAMILY CAREGIVER" on any of the major search engines for a complete listing. www.nfcacares.org The home page of the National Family Caregivers Association. Explore this web site and find out more about caregiving, what NFCA has to offer, about projects and programs underway and those that are planned for the future. www.carethere.com Provides a broad national database of information and services in the areas of health care, finance, insurance, legal products and emotional support – all specifically designed to assist caregivers. www.caregiver.com Internet home for Today’s Caregiver Magazine. Site includes topic specific newsletters, online discussion lists, back issue articles, chat. www.familycareamerica.com Offers varied resources to meet caregivers' specific needs, in their own localities, provides caregiver support, solution sharing, and discussion forums. www.webofcare.com Offers advice on disease-specific care situations, caregiver chats, product information, health news and local resource searches.   ELDERCARE WEBSITES: There are a variety of websites that offer information and support about elder care. Type "ELDERCARE" on any of the major search engines for a comprehensive listing. Each of the sites listed provides general geriatric health information, senior news and information, bulletin boards, etc. Many of these sites offer the ability to type in a zip code and obtain a list of local resources for home care, respite care, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, hospice and other types of care. www.caregiving.com www.careguide.com www.carescout.com www.eldercorner.com www.extendedcare.com www.ec-online.com (eldercare online) www.senior-directions.com TOP OF PAGE

"Where can I find financial help for my Caregiving?" GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Contact county or state Department of Health and Human Services , or area social service agencies, such as Catholic Charities, Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies and local chapters of voluntary health agencies to find out if they are offer any financial support programs and how to apply for it. PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MEDICAL CARE SUPPORT PROGRAMS Federal Hill-Burton Free Care Program 1-800-638-0742 (message center). Offers referrals to agencies that offer free medical care. Medicine Program PO Box 520 Doniphan, MO 63935 1-573-996-7300 web: www.themedicineprogram.com email: help@themedicineprogram.com A means-tested program for persons who do not have coverage either through insurance or government subsidies for outpatient prescription drugs, and who cannot afford to purchase medications at retail prices. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PHRMA) 1100 Fifteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 1-800-762-4636 (message center) 202-935-3400 to speak directly to someone web: www.phrma.org Provides a patient assistance directory that includes a list of pharmaceutical company-run programs to help people without insurance or those with a low income obtain medications The Caregivers Marketplace The Caregivers Group, Inc. P.O. Box 1206, Charlestown, RI 02813 Phone: 401-364-9100 Fax: 401-364-9933 Toll free: 1-866-327-8340 www.caregiversmarketplace.com The Caregivers MarketplaceTM   offers discounts on the commonly used products for incontinence, nutrition, bathing, skin care, mobility, aids to daily living and more. TOP OF PAGE

"I'm looking for overall Caregiver support. Where can I find it?" GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Contact your local hospital or clinic (social work department); county department of senior services or disability services, area adult day centers, social service agencies and/or the local chapter of the health agency that focuses on your loved one’s condition. It is by no means certain that they will offer caregiver support services, but they are good places to check. SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS:   National Family Caregivers Association 10400 Connecticut Avenue Suite 500 Kensington, MD 20895 1-800-896-3650 web: www.nfcacares.org email: info@nfcacares.org The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a grassroots organization created to educate, support, empower and advocate for the millions of Americans who care for chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones. NFCA is the only constituency organization that reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different relationships and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. NFCA is the voice of family caregivers. Members receive the quarterly newsletter, Take Care!, inspirational greeting cards and access to an experienced staff which provides information, referrals and caregiver support counseling. American Self-Help Clearinghouse Northwest Covenant Medical Center 25 Pocono Road Denville, NJ 07834 1-973-625-9565 web: www.selfhelpgroups.org email: ashc@cybernex.net Not caregiver specific, but serves as an information clearinghouse for self-help groups of all types and provides information on how to start a support group. Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) (in California only) 690 Market Street Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104 1-415-434-3388 1-800-445-8106 (CA only) web: www.caregiver.org email: info@caregiver.org FCA is a nationally recognized information center on long-term care and the lead agency in California's system of Caregiver Resource Centers. FCA serves as a public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, offering them the assistance they so desperately need and deserve, and championing their cause through education, services, research and advocacy. Friends Health Connection PO Box 114 New Brunswick, NJ 08903 800-384-7436 web: www.48friend.org email: FHC@pilot.NJIN.NET Links persons with illness or disability and their family caregivers with others experiencing the same challenges. Well Spouse Foundation 30 East 40th Street PH New York, NY 10016 1-800-838-0879 web: www.wellspouse.org A national, not for profit membership organization which gives support to husbands, wives and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled. They offer support group information for spouses. TOP OF PAGE

"Where can I find information about caring for my aging parents, and related family issues?" GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Contact your county department of senior services or elder affairs, area adult day centers, and/or social service agencies providing services to the elderly. REFERRAL SOURCES AARP 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 1-800-424-3410 web: www.aarp.org Supplies education and information about caregiving, long-term care, and aging, including publications and audio-visual aids for caregivers. Children of Aging Parents (CAPS) 1609 Woodbourne Road #302A Levittown, PA 19057 1-800-227-7294 web: www.experts.com;www.careguide.net CAPS assists caregivers of the elderly with information and referrals, a network of support groups, and publications and programs that promote public awareness of the value and the needs of caregivers. Eldercare Locator National Association of Area Agencies on Aging 927 15th Street, NW 6th floor Washington, DC 20005 1-800-677-1116 web: www.n4a.org. Referrals to Area Agencies on Aging via zip code locations. Offers information about many eldercare issues and services in local communities. The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers 1604 North Country Club Road Tucson, AZ 85716 1-520-881-8008 web: www.caremanager.org Geriatric care managers (GCMs) are health care professionals, most often social workers, who help families in dealing with the problems and challenges associated with caring for the elderly. This national organization will refer you to their state chapters, which in turn can give you the names of GCMs in your area. TOP OF PAGE

"How do I go about locating home care help or an assisted living or nursing facility?" WATCHDOG ORGANIZATIONS Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living PO Box 3375 Arlington, VA 22203 1-703-841-2333 CCAL is a national consumer–focused organization that is dedicated to representing the needs of residents in assisted living facilities and educating consumers, professionals, and the general public about assisted living issues. Authored the book "Choosing an Assisted Living Facility, Strategies for Making the Right Decision" which provides helpful information and contains a concise questionnaire. National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform 1424 Sixteenth Street, NW Suite 202 Washington, DC 20036 1-202-332-2275 web: www.nccnhr.org email: nccnhr@nccnhr.org Serves as an information clearinghouse; offers referrals nationwide for help with concerns about long-term care facilities. REFERRAL SOURCES New Lifestyles 1-800-869-9549 web: www.NewLifeStyles.com Publishes regional directories of nursing homes, assisted living and retirement communities. Call for a free copy or visit them on the web. Senior Alternatives 1-800-350-0770 web: www.senioralternatives.com Publishes regional directories of nursing homes, assisted living and retirement communities. Call for a free copy or visit them on the web. Visiting Nurses Association of America 11 Beacon Street Suite 910 Boston, MA 02108 617-523-4042 web: www.vnaa.org email: vnaa@vnaa.org Promotes community based home health care. You can contact them to find your local VNA. TOP OF PAGE

"How do I find training to improve my caregiving skills and how do I learn skills to help me cope better with the stresses of caregiving?" GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Community-based organizations periodically offer classes and workshops for family caregivers. Check your local paper for listings. Also check with your local community college, hospital or Red Cross chapter and the local chapter of the voluntary health agency focused on your loved one’s illness or disability. Strength for Caring 1-888-422-7380 web: www.oncolink.upenn.edu/sfc A national program to train cancer caregivers does exist. TOP OF PAGE