Elder Caregiver Resources

Guides

Caregiver Guide. National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral Center.
Caring for an Aging Loved One. Produced by the MetLife Consumer Education Center and reviewed by the U.S. Administration on Aging of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Council on Aging.
Caregiver Stress Fact Sheet. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women's Health.
10 Tips for Improving the Health of Older Adults. Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis web site.
Taking Care Of Aging Parent, Mental Health America web site.
Measures, Indicators, and Improvement of Quality of Life in Nursing Homes,a study to 1) develop and test measures and indicators of quality of life (QOL) for nursing home residents, and 2) study how the physical environment, including private rooms, affected resident QOL.
Hard Choices for Loving People: CPR, Artificial Feeding, Comfort Care and the Patient with a Life-Threatening Illness, Fifth Edition, by Hank Dunn. This book covers the most common medical treatment decisions faced by those who are living with a life-threatening illness.

Resource Organizations - Massachusetts

See below for specific resources in our member communities.

The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care

617-222-7512
www.endoflifecommission.org

The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care was established in 2001. The mission is “To improve the quality of life at the end of life.” They are committed to promoting public, professional and institutional awareness around end of life issues and fostering professional and consumer education to improve end of life care. The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care produced the Massachusetts Resource Guide for End of Life Services. The online version of the guide includes a searchable database of providers, organizations and agencies.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness - Massachusetts (NAMI - MASS)

781-938-4048 / 800-370-9085 (Massachusetts)
www.namimass.org

Maintains a helpline for information on mental illnesses and referrals to local groups. The local self-help groups have support and advocacy components and offer education and information about community services for families and individuals.

Support and Educational Groups: Meetings take place at Newton Wellesley Hospital, Bowles conference room. Free and all are welcome. For information call 617-244-9833.

Family Support Groups for Care Givers: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:00pm
Education Meetings: 4th Tuesday of each month, 7:30pm

Springwell, Inc.

617-926-4100
www.springwell.com

A private, not-for-profit organization that provides a wide variety of home care services to enable senior citizens remain in their own homes as long as possible. Services include homemaking, personal care, case management, home-delivered meals, and adult day health. Volunteers are available to delivering meals, take seniors to doctors appointments, grocery shop, or spending time talking with a senior. As a Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), Springwell provides eligible seniors care advice and home care services through the Commonwealth's State Subsidized Home Care Program. A Springwell Care Advisor conducts a in-home assessment, in consultation with a nurse, to determine program eligibility. Also Handles Protective Services investigations. Also provides caregiver support to those caring for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Care Advisors will visit with caregivers to help them understand what is going on, to review available options and to learn how to best manage the social service and health care networks.

Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc.

www.elderlifeplanning.com
450 Washington Street, Suite 108
Dedham, MA 02026
781-461-9637 / 800-375-0595

Provides health, social and functional assessments to determine individual needs and services. An elder care professional can conduct an assessment of a family's situation and create a comprehensive care plan that addresses medical, emotional, financial and legal needs. Services include care planning and care management: arranging and monitoring home and community care, assisted living, nursing care facilities and caregiver support. The web site provides information regarding community/social service resources and a free information kit, “When A Parent Needs Help: How to Put Together an Elder Care Plan That Makes Sense for You and Your Family.”

Resource Organizations in our Member Communities

Chelmsford
Dunstable
Groton
Needham

The Needham Council on Aging is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of residents of all ages and acts as a gateway to information, services and programming that support and enable a multigenerational group (ages randing from 60 to over 100) to maintain health, independence, optimal level of functioning, wherever the person resides. Offerings are designed to help maximize quality of life based on individual interests and needs. The professional staff offers individually tailored counseling and case management in a variety of settings, and can provide an array of information, resources and referrals to a variety of services.

NEEDHAM ACTS: Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention

781-769-8674 (Riverside Emergency Services)

Family members and friends caring for adults and older adults often may be faced with helping an adult or older adult who is experiencing significant depression. Adults and older adults experiencing this level of distress are at risk for suicide. NEEDHAM ACTS provides information offering support to family and friends in their efforts to help adults and older adults who are in great emotional distress.

Resource Organizations - National

National Alliance for Caregiving

www.caregiving.org

The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a non-profit coalition created to support family caregivers and the professionals who serve them. This web site provides caregiving tips, publications, resources, a list of events, and more.

National Family Caregivers Association

www.nfcacares.org

The NFCA exists to support family caregivers and to speak out publicly for caregivers’ needs. The NFCA espouses a philosophy of self-advocacy and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and see caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals.

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development

www.rci.gsw.edu

The Rosalynn Carter Institute promotes the mental health and well-being of individuals, families, and professional caregivers; promulgates effective caregiving; and advances policies that enhance caring communities.

Family Caregiver Alliance/ National Center on Caregiving

www.caregiver.org
415-434-3388 / 800-445-8106

A web site that provides a public voice for caregivers. It includes, information, education, services and advocacy to support the work of caregivers.

Disclaimer: Material on the MSPP INTERFACE Referral Service website is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. The MSPP INTERFACE Referral Service urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.