PCOA Programs and Services Family Caregiver Services
How to know if you are a caregiver? Do you: • Help a family member, neighbor or friend with tasks such as grocery shopping or rides to and from medical appointments? • Share responsibility for another person’s health, well-being and safety, no matter where they live? • Support someone with daily activities so that they can age at home as long as possible? • The person you care for may be as close as your living room or as far away as a long-distance phone call. In all these cases, you are a caregiver, and you’re not alone. Caring for a loved one creates many challenges. Our aim is to decrease stress and increase support and coping skills by providing: • Information and assistance in gaining access to resources, services and benefits. • Individual and family consultations, in person or by phone, to support decision-making and problem-solving related to the caregiving role. • Information about respite options including in-home, out-of-home, and adult day programs. • Caregiving trainings to assist in caring for yourself and your loved one. • Support groups to reduce stress, connect with others and know you are not alone!
Who qualifies for Family Caregiver Services? Informal, family, and kinship caregivers are eligible. This includes: • Any adult (such as a spouse, an adult child, a neighbor, or a friend) who provides care for someone 60 years or older. • Any adult caring for someone of any age with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. • A non-parent relative (such as a grandparent, aunt, stepbrother, etc.) aged 55+ who is caring for either a child up to age 18 or an adult family member with a disability. This is called “kinship caregiving.” Caregiver Training PCOA offers “Caregiver Essentials,” a two-part informal and family caregiver training. The first part provides classroom learning experience, and the second part provides hands-on skills instruction. Other trainings may also be available related to your situation. How do I access services? Call PCOA’s Helpline at (520) 790-7262, email help@pcoa.org, or request help through our website at refer.pcoa.org. PCOA offers “kinship caregiving” services through a partnership with Arizona Kinship Support Services (AKSS). To contact AKSS directly, please call (520) 318-4882 . Our Aging and Caregiving Specialists are specially trained to understand and respond to the needs of people experiencing a wide range of aging and disability concerns.
“You have no idea what a relief it was to talk to the Caregiver Specialist and not only get exactly the kinds of information we needed, but just as important, get reassuance that our decisions are on track. My sister and I left there feeling ten pounds lighter.” – Family Caregiver
Guide to Services | Page 4
Pima Council on Aging
(520) 790-7262 | pcoa.org
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