SANDWICH GENERATION: Resources for caregivers

SERVICES:

Seniors Select
905-963-8988
- This is a new local privately paid case-management service for adults caring for elderly relatives; it’s organized by Catholic Family Services of Hamilton.
- A caseworker offers an assessment to determine what services are needed and arranges those services.
- The initial assessment costs $300 to $600, depending on the complexity of the case.

Shalom Village
905-529-1613
www.shalomvillage.on.ca
70 Macklin Street North
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 3S1
- Shalom Village is a pioneering nonprofit organization that provides a community of services to older adults, including long-term care and assisted-living apartments.

Long Term Care Planning Network:
www.ltcplanningnetwork.com
·Canadian resource centre for aging and long-term care planning issues

Compassionate-care benefits
- The federal government expanded the Employment Insurance program to extend compassionate care benefits to a person who must be absent from work to provide care or to support to a gravely ill family member. Benefits may be paid up to a maximum of six weeks to an employee looking after a loved one who is at risk of dying within 26 weeks.
Visit: www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/ei/types/compassionate_care.shtml

Caregiver tax credit
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows Canadians to claim deductions and credits for individuals supporting people with disabilities. For example, care could have been provided to parents, parents-in-law and grandparents. The caregiver amount is a nonrefundable tax credit, which reduces the amount of federal income tax paid.
Visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/individuals/topics/income-tax/return/completing/deductions/lines300-350/315/menu-e.html

Caregiver Network Inc.
2 Oaklawn Gardens, Unit C
Toronto, ON M4V 2C6
416.323.1090
www.caregiver.ca
- Founded by Karen Henderson, who was a caregiver to her elderly parents, the network’s goal is to be a national single information source to make your life as a caregiver easier.
- Links to: How to Care: Your elderly survival guide, howtocare.com, also created by Henderson. This site includes caregiving support tools, caregiving tips, a site index that includes topics such as incontinence and bed sores along with information on what you should know and look for.

Canadian Health Network
www.canadian-health-network.ca
- This is a national, bilingual health-promotion program that includes a network of health information providers, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and national and provincial/territorial nonprofit organizations, as well as universities, hospitals, libraries and community organizations. Its goal is to help Canadians find the information they’re looking for on how to stay healthy and prevent disease. There is a specific section on seniors.

National Family Caregivers Association
www.thefamilycaregiver.org
- The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for those who care for loved ones with a chronic illness, disability or the frailties of old age. This U.S. association addresses the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers. It contains a wealth of resources and tips.

www.Workingcaregiver.com
- An American-based online community devoted to issues of working full-time while caring for an aging parent. Includes tips and advice.

Caregiver Listings
1-866-341-CARE
www.Caregiverlistings.com
- An online fee-for-service to Canadian families to help find caregivers for their loved ones, including part-time or full-time, live-in or live-out, local or overseas.

Ontario Community Support Association
www.ocsa.on.ca
- The Ontario Community Support Association has a membership of 360 home- and community-care agencies in Ontario. The website offers a “Carefinder” guide to search for services in your community.

National Alliance for Caregiving
www.caregiving.org
- This alliance provides support to family caregivers and the professionals who help them.

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS

The Canadian Health Network article: How can I best deal with the stresses of being a caregiver?
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1048161679943&
pagename=CHN-RCS%2FPage%2FGTPageTemplate&c=Page&lang=En

Test your knowledge on seniors and the aging process with this pop quiz:
http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors/english/agingquiz.htm

Canadian Caregiver Coalition
http://www.ccc-ccan.ca/
· Nonprofit organization serves as a voice for the interests of family caregivers

Canadian Mental Health Association
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=2-70-73&lang=1
· Tips for growing together with aging parents

Veteran Affairs Canada
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=health/caregiving/burnout
·Preventing caregiver burnout
 

Strength for Caring
www.strengthforcaring.com
- An online resource and virtual community designed specifically for caregivers. This website includes information by caregiving experts, professional societies, U.S. government agencies and family caregivers themselves. It is designed to help caregivers learn to reduce their own stress while providing all of the information they need to care for their loved ones and themselves.
- Check out this portion of the site for a checklist on important personal papers:
http://www.strengthforcaring.com/manual/worksheets-tips-and-facts-checklists/
where-to-find-my-important-papers/
- Doctor’s visit checklist:
http://www.strengthforcaring.com/manual/worksheets-tips-and-facts-checklists/
doctors-office-visit-checklist/

Family Caregiving 101
www.familycaregiving101.org
- This site is designed to provide caregivers with the basic tools, skills and information they need to protect their own physical and mental health while they provide high-quality care for their loved one.

Today's Caregiver Magazine
www.caregiver.com
- The site includes topic-specific newsletters, online discussion lists, back-issue articles of Today's Caregiver magazine, chat rooms and an online store.

Let’s Talk — The Care-Years, by Patty Randall ($27, LTC Long-Term Care Planning, 2007)
·This 593-page book was written for Canadian baby boomers to use on their caregiving journey with aging parents —  and also for today’s seniors who are interested in maintaining their quality of life and independence.