Care Provider resources

Hi Everyone.
I missed you last week so Happy Belated Father’s Day to all those men out there who have given some guidance or support to another in a fatherly way.
This week I had the privilege to be part of a wonderful outreach in NE Ohio thru Convoy of Hope. While there, I was honored to meet a wonderful senior couple who were married only a year. She was her spouse’s care provider as well as his sweetheart. It touched me while it tore at my heart to see this beautiful couple whose love transcended what medical expenses and everyday living expenses were doing to cause need in their lives. It strengthened my resolve to see a National Day for Care Providers happen. Opening our eyes to some of their struggles and doing something to help would be such a gift, even if it was the smallest of gestures.
I have received emails of support and suggestions of other organizations where I can propose the idea. Care giving organizations so far are for it. I met this week with a woman who was helpful in suggesting that my next step might be to find a Senator or some other member of Congress who could support the idea and bring it to the floor.
As this unfolds, my original date for July is obviously too close so my latest thought for a date is the 4th of August, which I chose simply because there are four letters in the word care and eight in provider. I still like the idea of a date in summer, but I am also very aware that the date is flexible if the day can happen.
Those who see the difficulties of giving care are so supportive of this and together I know we can make it happen. While I continue to email organizations, get feedback and look into congressional support, I thought this might be a good opportunity to share some of the wonderful help that is out there for the care provider with organizations who want to assist to make the burden lighter.
These are just some organizations and websites devoted to helping the care provider. I apologize that they cannot be direct links. I worked on it much of the day but my computer would not allow the link and when I tried to work around it I couldn't get it through Blogger. So if any of these are of interest, they should be easy to cut and paste onto Google:
Family Caregiver Alliance:
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/home.jsp
Medicare.gov:
http://www.medicare.gov/caregivers/
Family Caregiver Support Network:
http://www.caregiversupportnetwork.org/default.asp?id=1
Empowering Care Givers:
http://www.care-givers.com/
Caregivers Home Companion:
http://www.caregivershome.com/
Alzheimer’s Association:
http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_caring_for_alzheimers.asp
Alzheimer’s Foundation:
http://www.alzfdn.org/?gclid=CIu74fTku6ICFRBx5Qodime46g
AARP:
http://www.aarp.org/relationships/caregiving/info-04-2010/prepare-to-care.html
The Alzheimer’s Store
http://www.alzstore.com

I hope these can be of help. Pass them on. And if anyone knows of a congressman who knows firsthand what it is like to provide care, please pass this on to them. Thanks. Mary Ann