Coming of Age Home Page

Caregiving

Frequently Asked Caregiving Questions

Taking care of a family member can be overwhelming, and these new responsibilities spark many questions. Here are a few of the most common ones people ask: 
 

I’m just starting to care for a family member.  Where do I turn first? 

You’ll soon discover that there are a huge number of resources available. One of the best starting points is the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA).  This site is aimed at people who are caring for an elderly relative, including a parent, spouse, or partner. Your best place to start may be the “Six Stages of Care” to get resources based on where you are in the caregiving cycle.  You might also want to take a look at the excellent guide to caregiving offered by AXA Financial.   

 
 

Where can I find information about financing care?

Several good sources are available.  Start with a basic understanding of Medicare and its coverage by reading Medicare Basics. For more information on financing care, you can go to Family Caregiving… It’s Not All Up to You. For Pennsylvania-specific information, try Find Information About Caregiving Resources

 
 

How can I locate a “geriatric care manager”?

One way is to go to “Find a Care Manager”, a service offered by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.  You also can check the blue pages of your phone book for senior services organizations or go to Eldercare Locator, a site of the US Department of Health and Human Services, where you use your zip code to locate local Area Agencies on Aging and other resources.

 
 

I need a legal resource to help with wills, power of attorney, etc.

The best resource for this sort of help is an elder law attorney. To find a qualified attorney, you may want to get a recommendation from your geriatric care manager. In Pennsylvania, you can locate an elder law attorney (and other services) via Search CaregiverPA Resources.  Elsewhere, try the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

 
 

I’m overwhelmed with my caregiving responsibilities.  How can I take a break?

A number of organizations offer “respite services” where they will take over your caregiving responsibilities for a few hours or even a few days to give you a breather. Services are typically offered at your home or wherever you are providing caregiving but sometimes are provided at a short-stay respite facility. Temple University’s Time Out program is one option if you’re in the Philadelphia area.  You can find other respite care resources at Family Caregiving’s Respite Resources.

 
For other caregiver questions and answers, go to Family Caregiving’s Top 10 Questions.