FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORTS

Caring for a family member?  You’re not alone.  One in 4 adults provides assistance to a disabled family member or friend.  Caregivers report that the best way to help those you love is to recognize it’s not all up to you.  Ask for help.

Caregiver Resources & Contact Information
Organizations & Agencies That Can Help
Advice from other caregivers

Caregivers Friend:  Multimedia website that was proven in national study to reduce self-report of stress and burden among caregivers

To talk to someone about services available in your community, call:

AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER

Aging and Disability Services

240-777-3000

TTY 240-777-4575

[Caregiver Brochure in .pdf format]

For Information on Other Services Provided by Aging and Disability Services

ADVICE FROM OTHER CAREGIVERS

Learning about disabling conditions can help you know what to expect and how to deal with it.  You can find useful information through doctors, libraries and on-line.

Caring for another adult may involve learning new skills.  Practical training on how to assist someone with daily tasks (bathing, dressing, transferring) can increase safety and save time and energy.

Caregiving can inspire a range of emotions from fulfillment to frustration, guilt and anger.  Talking to other caregivers experiencing similar feelings can be helpful.

Practical Tips: 

• Individuals with dementia (Alzheimers) can become agitated when confused or unsure of what is going on around them.  If you have to move them, or change something (linens), it helps to explain to them in advance what and why you plan to do it. 
• Writing things out helps!  Examples include:  list of tasks or errand that need to be done (which you can share with family members to help distribute the workload), list of medications that the person may be taking in case of an emergency, critical phone numbers (write in big lettering), list of things that need to be checked before leaving the house (e.g., keys, eyeglasses, locking the door)