Having to care for a parent, sibling or other family member can be extremely difficult and stressful especially if that person is chronically or mentally ill.  People who care for someone whether they get paid or not, also known as caregivers, are "on call" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It can be a time-consuming, emotionally, mentally, and physically draining job for anyone to undertake.  Even if someone only needs help food shopping or paying bills, it can be hard to set aside time in our busy schedules or have the patience to do these simple activities.

When we become unable to take care of our family members or close friends by ourselves, we often look for alternative options such as nursing homes, day facilities, or assisted living complexes.  However, services such as these can be costly, the paperwork can be overwhelming, and it is difficult to leave your loved one in the care of others.

There are several resources for caregivers of all kinds including support groups and home care services, but there are also resources for those who feel that they can no longer live independently but do not want to be in a nursing home.  Below is a list of links to resources all related to the process of caring for our elders.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caregivers.html

http://www.medicare.gov/nursing/alternatives.asp

http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=392

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/caring-for-the-caregiver

Robin L. Steele
Board of Health Secretary