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About the Program
The Area Office
on Aging provides service to a ten-county region; including
Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky,
Williams, and Wood counties. The Caregiver Support Program is
sponsored by the Area Office on Aging and funded by the Older
American Act Amendments of 2000.
Services the Caregiver Support Program can provide are:
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 Information
& Assistance: By offering information and
assistance to caregivers in any situation, the Caregiver
Support Program staff can answer any questions a caregiver
may have, provide any information on the illness their
loved one is suffering from, support groups which may
be helpful, or maybe just general information on local
resources or assistance available they may be eligible
for. For example, the Caregiver Support Program publishes
a monthly newsletter, along with a resource guide entitled
"Caregiver Smarts." This is a comprehensive
guide filled with information, advice, helpful hints,
and extensive resources for today’s caregiver. |
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Consultations:
All caregivers are eligible for telephone or in-home consultation
to assist with coping with handling issues while also
providing care to a loved one. A professional can provide
one-two confidential sessions including as many family
members as willing to attend. Information and referral
to appropriate resources, a typed letter reviewing the
results of the consultation and the suggestions agreed
upon as well as follow-up contact as needed. |
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Respite Services:
Respite care, or a “short break,” can be beneficial
to those who are at risk of “caregiver burnout.”
A professional can come to the caregiver’s home
to evaluate your eligibility for this service. There are
several types of respite including: |
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In-home
respite: This is when a home health agency
can send a home health aide to the home so that
caregivers can have a break for a few hours. |
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Out-of-home
respite: This can involve either having
the person receiving care attend an adult day care
program, or having a short-term stay in a nursing
facility. The purpose of utilizing a nursing facility
could be either to have a trial period of staying
at a nursing facility, or in the event the caregivers
are going out of town for any reason. |
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Supplemental Services:
Caregivers can be assessed to determine their eligibility
for these services which can help meet the diverse or
unforeseen needs of caregivers while caring for their
loved ones. |
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Some services, such as in-home care,
an overnight stay in a facility, transportation, or equipment
may have a co-pay based on the income of the person that you
are caring for. No one is denied services for an inability to
pay.
For more information and assistance, please call the Area Office
on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc. Ask for the Caregiver Support
Program at 419-382-0624, 1-800-472-7277 or visit us at www.areaofficeonaging.com
and click on "Caregiver Support."
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