Bridge to Healthy Families - Caregiver Support

Overview of Caregiver Support Services

According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, there are 65.7 million caregivers – 29% of the U.S. adult population – who are caring for someone who is ill, disabled or aged. The role as caregiver may include household chores, shopping, providing transportation, personal care, and giving medications. Caregivers’ lives at work and at home can be disrupted. With multiple roles and multiple responsibilities, many caregivers often neglect themselves. Those who care for others may experience caregiver stress, often characterized by depression, exhaustion, irritability, social withdrawal, and sleeplessness.

ACC Senior Services provides many services that can assist people with their caregiving needs:

• Bridge to Healthy Families provides care assessment and management for family caregivers that can help identify needs and be connected to support services and resources.
• Senior Companionship Program provides frail seniors with enrichment activities and care assistance while allowing caregivers that much needed “break” from their duties.
• ACC Rides Transportation Service can help get loved ones to and from ACC Senior Services Center or to necessary appointments.
• Meals on Wheels by ACC can insure that home-bound care recipients receive a nutritious meal.
• ACC Senior Resource Guide provides up-to-date information on the programs and benefits in four different languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean)

ACC Friendly Visitor Program

ACC Friendly Visitor/In-Home Respite Service is part of our Caregiver Support Program. Through this program, screened Friendly Visitors offer family caregivers an opportunity to take a break (respite) from their caregiving duties and serve as friendly visiting companions to older adults. Their primary activities include:

• Conversation and companionship
• Play games or engage in creative arts
• Light exercise, short-distant walks
• Reading, watching TV/movies together