Caregiver Support
Are You a Caregiver?
- Do you provide unpaid care for an adult with a chronic health condition, memory loss, or physical impairment?
- Does another adult depend on you for safety, finances, and/or errands?
- Do you feel responsible for the health and well-being of another adult?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you are a caregiver!
“Are you a Caregiver?” [Questionnaire] Retrieved and adapted from caregivercalifornia.org/caregiver-quiz
Know that you are not alone in your caregiving journey. Explore caregiving information and resources below.
Dementia Consultation
Individual and group consultation can include dementia education, identifying caregiver concerns, developing a plan of action to address concerns, as well as education about resources to support caregivers and those who have dementia. There is no charge for consultation.
Contact : KC Austern, LMSW-clinical, 517-887-1418.
Caregiver Workshops and Classes
Tri-County Office on Aging offers three Caregiver Workshops:
- Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational program designed to help family caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for a family member or friend.
- Savvy Caregiver Program provides persons caring for an individual with dementia at home with information, skills and attitudes to manage stress and learn effective care giving skills.
- Dementia Caregiving Series is a 3-session series for anyone caring for a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.
Visit the Classes/Evidence-Based Programs page to learn more and see when the next series are scheduled.
Contact : Christine Histed, RD, 517-887-1450.
Emergency Planning
Do You Have an Emergency Caregiver Plan?
There may be a time when a crisis stops you from being able to care for someone else. It’s important to have a caregiver emergency plan for the health and safety of your care recipient.
You can also call it a backup plan or a contingency plan. A good emergency plan includes all the information that someone else will need in order to take care of your care recipient. The plan should also include a way to alert others, such as emergency services or a backup caregiver to the need to enact the emergency plan.
Create a Plan:
- Identify a Back-up Caregiver
- Set up regular/scheduled check-ins with a friend, family member, or community agency
- Have a guide ready for your back-up caregiver
- Keep an emergency card in your wallet
Caregiver Emergency Card
Online Caregiver Support Groups
Online Caregiver Support Groups
In partnership with the Area Agencies on Aging in Michigan, Tri-County Office on Aging offers online support groups.
Monthly online support groups are available for:
- Dementia Caregivers
- Relatives Raising Relatives Children
- General Caregivers
Pre-registration is not required.
View the support group meeting schedule here: Support Group Collaborative Flyer
Contact : KC Austern, LMSW-clinical, 517-887-1418.
Online Learning (Trualta)
Tri-County Office on Aging is partnering with Trualta to provide a self-paced, interactive eLearning tool for caregivers. Use the following link to access audio, video and printed material on a variety of topics intended to help develop skills to best care for your loved one and yourself.
Other Resources
Quick Links
