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[Carol Bradley Bursack]

Thanks for the comment, Bill. I send people to these wonderful services regularly. It never hurts to mention them.
Take care,
Carol

[Bill Jackson]

Caregivers: What You Need To Know About the National Family Caregiver Support Program

Taking care of an elderly loved one is often an emotional and stressful responsibility. It can be very overwhelming for a person and it is easy to become discouraged. One may also feel alone or alienated from the outside world when caring for a family member. Fortunately, programs like the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) exist to provide caregivers the resources they so desperately need.

In 2000, as part of the amendments to the Older Americans Act, the NFCSP came into existence. It was created by the Administration on Aging. Throughout the U.S., discussions were held exclusively on the topic of family care giving, and the needs expressed by the caregivers who attended these discussions were used to formulate this program. The program is also based on successful programs similar to this one already instituted in many states around the country. It dictates that all states, in conjunction with local agencies, are required to provide five specific services:

Information regarding services available to caregivers
Assistance for caregivers to get the services they need
Counseling, support groups, and training to provide caregivers knowledge and emotional support
Respite Care to allow caregivers to be relieved of their duty on occasion
Limited supplemental services to compliment a caregiver's care

To qualify for the services provided by the NFCSP, you need to be a caregiver of an older adult over the age of 60. Priority attention is given to individuals with the greatest financial need as well as those who are caring for individuals with mental or developmental disabilities. Contact your local area Agency on Aging and State Unit on Aging for more information.

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