Alabama Cares - Provides Respite and Supplies

Article submitted by the Area Agency on Aging.
For more information, they can be reached at 251-433-6541.

Caregivers play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence. Who is a caregiver? A caregiver is a family or non-family member who is am informal provider of in-home and community care to an adult 60 years or older. The basic goals of caregiving are to insure the care recipient's quality of life, physical comfort and Safety.

Caregiving has its greatest impact on the emotional health of the caregiver, with those caregivers of persons with dementia and stroke being at the highest risk of depression and anxiety disorders. One of the key concerns for caregivers, therefore, is how caregiving will affect various areas of their lives. All too often caregivers place their own needs last, and not caring for themselves as they care for others.

Through the Older Americans Act the Administration on Aging provides funding to area agencies on aging and tribal organizations to support a variety of activities. Cognizant of the fact that it is important and essential for full-time and part-time caregivers to take temporary breaks, the National Family Caregiver support Program was established in 2000 by the Older Americans Act. This program provides services such as information, counseling, respite care, and adult day care for caregivers and chronically ill older persons. The funds from this program pass down to state agencies and community service organizations to provide the aforementioned services in addition to training in caregiving and supplemental supplies. The Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS), under the National Family Caregiver Support Act, developed a program named "Alabama Cares." The South Alabama Regional Planning Commission/Area Agency on Aging received a grant from ADSS to fund "Alabama Cares" in Mobile, Baldwin, and Escambia Counties. "Alabama Cares" supports family caregivers by providing training assistance and resources to help them take care of their aging loved ones and themselves.

Families, not social service agencies, nursing homes, or government programs, are the foundation of long-term care for older persons in the United States. According to the most recent National Long-Term Care Survey, more than seven million persons are informal caregivers, providing unpaid help to older persons who live in the community and have at least one limitation of their activities of daily living. Their caregivers include spouses, adult children, and other relatives and friends.

Who can get services? Family caregivers, adults over 60, or persons with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Priority is given to persons with greater social and economic need, with particular attention to low-income, minority individuals.

What does this cost care recipients? A sliding fee scale depending on the care recipient's income, determines contribution. Below-national poverty level care recipients require no contribution, however voluntary contributions (donations) are accepted.

How does a caregiver apply? To make an application for "Alabama Cares" call the Area Agency on Aging, 251-433-6541, or 1-800-243-5463 (AGE-LINE). Ask for Gwen Gay, "Alabama Cares" Regional Coordinator.