For
Caregivers
Caregiving may be one of the most important roles you will undertake
in your lifetime. Typically it is not an easy role, nor is it
one for which most of us are prepared. Like most people, you may
have questions about how to cope with your care receiver’s
illnesses or disability. If you have a job and are juggling several
responsibilities or if your family member or friend needs a lot
of assistance, you may need help with caregiving, too. Whether
you are expecting to become a caregiver or have been thrust into
the role overnight, it is useful to know where you can get information
and help.
The enactment of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public
Law 106-501) established an important new program, the National
Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The program was developed
by the Administration on Aging (AoA) of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS). It was modeled in large part
after successful LTC programs in States such as California, New
Jersey, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and after listening to the
needs expressed by hundreds of family caregivers in discussions
held across the country.
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