Caregiver Support Groups, Information and Resources for Caregivers of Children and Adults with Disabilities: New Horizons Un-Limited

Community: Caregiver Support Groups

National
State Listings:
MA / NC / OH / WI
(Official USPS State Abbreviations)

National

Caregiver.com is the online aspect of Today's Caregiver Magazine. This website offers a chat area, a listing of helpful organizations, a listing of events and more. For caregiver regional support groups the home page offers a map of the United States that you may click on to find support groups and organizations in your area. You may also sign up to receive a free e-mail newsletter. Visit the links above to learn more about this website.

Disaboom was founded by Dr. J. Glen House, a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation who is also a quadriplegic. Their mission is to create the first comprehensive source of information, insight and personal engagement for a disability community. There is a whole section devoted to caregivers and caregiver support. For more information, contact them at Disaboom, Inc., 7730 E. Belleview Ave., Suite A306, Denver, CO 80111 or Phone: (720) 407-6530 or Fax: (720) 407-6531 or send e-mail to Info@disaboom.com

Empowering Caregivers is a website designed to offer a support system to all caregivers. The website features a chatroom, a message board, links to resources, articles, newsletters and other suggested readings, and also offers a number of suggested coping strategies.

Family Caregiver Alliance, is the premier support organization for caregivers. Via their Family Care Navigator they provide state-by-state resources and information for family caregivers who are providing care to an older or disabled family member or friend. Their website also offers information on Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, ALS and other disorders and long-term care concerns. Their site offers an e-mail support group, encouraging caregivers to exchange ideas and solutions to common difficulties. For more information, visit their website or e-mail info@caregiver.org.

National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. Beyond the informational value of their website, the NFCA also provides a variety of ways for caregivers to connect with each other. Via their Caregiver Community Action Network, a network of volunteers, experienced in family caregiving, reach out to family caregivers at the state and local levels, providing information and support and education on issues affecting family caregivers.

National Respite Locator Service helps parents, caregivers and professionals find respite services in their state and local areas to match their specific needs. There is a "Search for Respite" feature with this service to help find what you need whether it is for the elderly or adult day care services or for therapy/respite camps for kids with autism or other special needs or disabilities. Respite is for caregivers to get a break from taking care of kids or the elderly or otherwise with disabilities or chronic or terminal illnesses. Respite can occur out of home and in home settings for a length of time depending on the needs of the family and the availability of the resources. The service headquarters are located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. You can find out about respite care available in your own state. For more information, the address is Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project, Inc., 800 Eastmore Dr. Suite 105, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, Telephone number: (919) 490-5577, Fax number: (919) 490-4905 and TDD number (919) 490-5577.

Well Spouse Association (WSA), an international, non-profit membership organization, provides emotional support to wives, husbands and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled. WSA offers support groups, round robin and mentor programs, on-line forum, respite weekends, national conference and a quarterly newsletter. Assistance given to start new support groups. For more information, visit their website at www.wellspouse.org or email us at info@wellspouse.org or call 1-800-838-0879.

State Listings

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Government Family Caregiver Support Program offers caregivers assistance and support to ease the strain and reduce the challenges of caregiving. Caring for a loved one can often be difficult and frustrating. We recognize the potential emotional, physical and financial strain of caregiving, as well as its pleasures. This site was designed to help you care for your loved one and yourself. If you are a parent, grandparent, spouse, daughter, son, grandchild or friend who is caring for a disabled person, this website is for you. This website includes "How to's" for: home safety, doctor visits, instructions for substitute caregivers and extensive list of links to help, care for the caregiver, what employers can do, professional and other web resources for the caregiver.

North Carolina

Full Circle of Care is an informative website for caregivers. While their focus is on caregivers of the elderly, much of the information provided relates to those caring for younger family members with disabilities as well. The site offers a listing of caregiver support groups by county, links to helpful caregiver handbooks and newsletters, information on caregiver stress and burnout and much more.

Ohio

Caregiver Assistance Network offers caregivers an opportunity to share their experiences while also providing support to one another. All caregivers, regardless of background, are welcome to attend group meetings. Their website features several helpful links and "Balance" - a newsletter dedicated to the support of caregivers. To find a support group in your area, call (513) 929-GIVE (4483).

Wisconsin

Care for the Caregivers Support Group meets at West Allis Memorial Hospital and Manor Park Village providing supportive help for caregivers. This support group is open to the public. For days and times of meetings, call (414) 328-7405.

Wisconsin's Family Caregiver Support Programs: Resources for Family Caregivers is designed to assist people, caregivers and professionals who are seeking appropriate living situations. Nursing Homes and Health Care Centers that are skilled nursing facilities designed for the needs of people that are convalescing from sickness and or surgery or long term care and many other types of living programs and facilities enter their program and facility information on this website. Program and facility contributors are responsible for the accuracy of their information. Hospice care programs that help people that are terminally ill that only have 6 months or less to live and their families and assisted living facilities for private living in Residential Care Apartment complexes of at least 250 square feet with an access of at no more than 28 hours per week of supportive personal and nursing services are also listed. There are fees involved with this program.

Saint Mary's Medical Center, Support Group for Caregivers has started in Racine, Wisconsin at the Library and Community Resource Center at Saint Mary's Medical Center, Racine, Wisconsin. For more information call (262) 687-4593.