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The holidays can be stressful for caregivers. The Caregiver Action Network is a non profit organization. Its mission is to provide "education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge." The Caregiver Action Network offers the following recommendations for helping caregivers:
- Offer a few hours of respite time to allow a caregiver to rest.
- Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
- Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
- Help a family caregiver find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.
Remember, you can contact the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas's Senior Helpline (1-800-963-5337) to find local resources for respite care. This helpline is available for residents of Florida. In addition, you can find a large list of online caregiving resources from the federal government here.
Some of the CARES Senior Enrichment Centers in Pasco County offer adult day services, which can provide a break for caregivers. You can learn more by clicking here.
There are two hospices available in Pasco County and both host caregiver support and bereavement groups:
Gulfside Regional Hospice - click here for meeting information.
HPH Hospice - click here for meeting information.
The MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Adult Day Services Association have published a consumer guide called "The Essentials: Adult Day Services". Adult Day Services (adult day care centers) care for elderly or disabled people during the day, so that they can continue to live in their homes. These centers also help by providing respite time for caregivers. Adult day care centers usually have:
- social activities
- meals and snacks
- nursing services
- personal care
- therapeutic activities
- transportation to/from the facility
In addition, some centers provide more intensive health care or rehabilitation following an accident or a more complex medical problem. This guide gives advice on how to find a good adult day care center, what staffing ratios to look for, financial relief information, and resources. Cost can range from $30 to about $150 per day, with a national average of about $61 per day. You can download the guide here. To find local Adult Day Care centers, you can use the Facility/Provider search on the FloridaHealthFinder website.
