Funded with a federal grant for Lifespan Respite awarded by the Administration for Community Living to the New York State Office for the Aging. Award Number HHS-2020-ACL-AOA=LRLI-0413
Also funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program # U1QHP28738. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors/speakers and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Center for Health Care Strategies
New York was one of 8 states selected to join the second phase of Helping States Support Families Caring for an Aging America, a multi-state collaborative aimed at strengthening state-based opportunities to support family caregivers of older adults. This national initiative, led by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), is made possible by The John A Hartford Foundation and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Over two years, the participating states will receive technical assistance from CHCS and leading experts as well as benefit from peer-to-peer learning opportunities to help develop and/or enhance strategies to assist family caregivers. Areas of focus include:
Strengthening family caregivers’ capacity, including, for example, through use of new technologies, increased access to respite care, and formal training for family caregivers;
Establishing robust data collection strategies to enhance programs or inform policies to support family caregivers (e.g., family caregiver needs assessments, surveys of program effectiveness); and
Building formal cross-sector partnerships (e.g., across aging, housing, transportation, health plans, etc.) in a deliberate and strategic way to better support family caregivers’ needs. Read the Press Release
Family Caregivers Deserve Thanks During the Pandemic
COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Guide for Kinship Families and Grandfamilies
“Kinship Families and Grandfamilies” are families in which children are raised by their grandparents, other extended family members, or adults with whom they have a close family-like relationship. Currently, there are an estimated 2.7 million children in grandfamily/kinship households without parents in the home. Under normal circumstances, these families face significant challenges—health, well-being, financial, and legal—to name a few.
During emergencies, including natural disasters or pandemics, these challenges are magnified for Kinship Families and Grandfamilies. Recognizing this, the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) developed a COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide.
COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide for Kinship Families and Grandfamilies contains resources on the following topic areas:
COVID-19 Resources for Kinship Family and Grandfamily Caregivers
General COVID-19 Information from the Federal Government
Tips for “Staying Connected” in an Emergency
Helplines and Hotlines
Resources for Health Care and Social Service Providers
Project Hope is New York’s COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline.
NY Project Hope helps New Yorkers understand their reaction and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an emotional support helpline, educational materials, and trusted referrals, NY Project Hope helps people manage and cope with changes brought on by COVID-19.
Project Hope Crisis Counselors understand what you are going through. Talking to them is free, confidential, and anonymous. Talk to someone who is trained, knowledgeable and never judges. Sometimes it helps to talk with someone you don’t know.
Emotional Support Helpline: 1-844-863-9314
Check out all he resources at the new website
Volunteer Respite Guidelines
Principal Author: Kim E. Whitmore, PhD, RN, CPN, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Founder and Chief Change Officer of Ujima United, LLC
An ARCH Work group was convened to provide guidance and expertise in development of the Guidelines.
Case Studies for Providing or Restarting Respite during the Pandemic
BREAK Exchange Webinar: Preliminary Results of the Supporting Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Survey, June 3, 2020
Volunteer Respite Manual: Creating Valuable Options for Family Caregivers (Updated)
AARP Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 Update
This report is the most recent update to the trended research series, Caregiving in the U.S., conducted roughly 5 years ago. The 2020 update reveals an increase in the number of family caregivers in United States of 9.5 million from 2015 to 2020. Family caregivers now encompass more than one in five Americans. The study also reveals that family caregivers are in worse health compared to five years ago. As the demand for caregiving rises with an aging population, there is an opportunity for the public and private sectors to work together to develop solutions to support family caregivers and those under their care. Download the report
Coronavirus Caregiving Resources
From the National Alliance for Caregiving
COVID-19 is a wakeup call to better prepare for an aging population, and for the kinds of solutions that would benefit us all. They are not just solutions for older people; it’s actually about the public health of American families, and the public health of our country. Check out the resources below to help you and your families through this time.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Find tips on how to decrease the spread of Coronavirus HERE.
NAC and Caring Across Generations:
See our Tips for Sandwich Caregivers in the Era of COVID-19 HERE. This tip sheet can be helpful to all caregivers responsible for both the young and old.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):
See COVID-19 FAQ's for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies HERE.
The John A. Hartford Foundation:
Find an updated list of resources from the John A. Hartford Foundation's partners HERE.
The Mighty
Looking for a distraction? join The Mighty's #DistractMe community now with games, puzzles, funny stories and more to help each other get through tough times.
Administration for Community Living (ACL):
See ACL'S COVID-19 site HERE.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Read the 10 Things You Need to Know About the Coronavirus HERE.
Coronavirus Prevention Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers - From The Register Herald | February 28. 2020 | Read the Article
Respite Resources in the Time of COVID-19 - Lifespan Respite Partners throughout the the US are meeting via Zoom to share Respite Resources - All these resources are listed in the ARCH Website
Next Avenue - COVID-19 Coverage geared toward keeping older generations informed, safe and prepared.
NEW! Lifting Our Voices for Caregivers
