National Caregiver Month is a time to recognize and honor the millions of Americans who provide care to loved ones/individuals with a variety of health conditions/disabilities. Caregiving can take place at home, in a healthcare setting, or even from afar. Caregivers may assist with activities of daily living, medical care, companionship/emotional support, etc.
The many roles and responsibilities of caregiving can place significant strain on one’s mental and physical health, work life, and social/relationship functioning, which can lead to caregiver stress or burnout. It is important to raise awareness of the challenges associated with caregiving as well as provide tools and resources to caregivers to help them better care for their loved ones. You can find a variety of resources available to Rhode Island caregivers below.
Source: www.ncoa.org.
Local resources for caregivers
Unite Us Rhode Island: Consists of a coordinated care network of healthcare, government, nonprofit, and other organizations who partner with Unite Us to identify and deliver services that address the needs of those within the community. For more information, visit uniteus.com/networks/rhode-island/.
Family Caregiver Alliance of Rhode Island: Advocates for and provides resources to caregivers who are providing long-term in-home care for family and friends, including children and youth with special needs, adults with disabilities, and the elderly. For more information, visit https://www.unitedwayri.org/get-help/fcari/.
Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging: Empowering older Rhode Islanders (age 55+) and adults living with disabilities to age strong by connecting them to information and resources in the community such as caregiver support/respite, health insurance assistance, food and nutrition assistance, public benefits, housing and transportation support, etc. For more information, visit: oha.ri.gov.
Rhode Island Office of Special Needs: Provides families of children with special needs with support, guidance, and encouragement regarding the healthcare of the child from birth through the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Ensures access to information for appropriate community-based systems of services for families with children and youth with special healthcare needs. For more information, visit health.ri.gov/specialneeds/for/parents/.
Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL): Offers comprehensive independent living assessment services as requested by private individuals, vendors, Medicaid, and state agencies. Comprehensive assessments provide recommendations for specialized equipment, home modifications, and/or independent living services that are required for individuals to achieve goals for independence in the home and community. For more information, visit oscil.org.