Caregiver Support - COVID-19 Impact

During this time of upheaval we are sending well wishes to all Montgomery County residents.

A number of local non profits have announced they will be continuing their caregiver support groups via telephone.  Please contact each organization to learn what programs will be available via telephone.

If you are a caregiver of a loved one with a medical diagnosis, many organization's already provide dial in helpline, telephone and online supports, including:
The Alzheimer's Association's - 24/7 Helpline 1800.272.3900
Click here to view more organizations


Shortly the County Caregiver Support Program will start offering telephone and online programs. These will be announced via the County's Caregiver Blog and eNewsletter. To receive these announcements, subscribe today!


Montgomery County is working diligently to ensure County residents are safe and receive care during this medical crisis.
Click here to view Montgomery County's Coronvirus Resources

COVID-19 Health Advisory

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should: Stock up on supplies. Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others. When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often. Avoid crowds as much as possible. Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed. Who is at Higher Risk? Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes: Older adults People who have serious chronic medical conditions like: Heart disease Diabetes Lung disease If a COVID-19 outbreak happens in your community, it could last for a long time. (An outbreak is when a large number of people suddenly get sick.) Depending on how severe the outbreak is, public health officials may recommend community actions to reduce people’s risk of being exposed to COVID-19. These actions can slow the spread and reduce the impact of disease. If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease. Get Ready for COVID-19 Now Have supplies on hand Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time. If you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for medications. Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home. Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time. Take everyday precautions Avoid close contact with people who are sick Take everyday preventive actions Clean your hands often Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something. Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places. Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc. Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones) Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick. Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships. If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, take extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people to further reduce your risk of being exposed to this new virus. Stay home as much as possible. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks Have a plan for if you get sick: Consult with your health care provider for more information about monitoring your health for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Stay in touch with others by phone or email. You may need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc. if you become sick. Determine who can provide you with care if your caregiver gets sick Watch for symptoms and emergency warning signs Pay attention for potential COVID-19 symptoms including, fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, call your doctor. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. In adults, emergency warning signs*: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion or inability to arouse Bluish lips or face *This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning. What to Do if You Get Sick Stay home and call your doctor Call your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms. Tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help them take care of you and keep other people from getting infected or exposed. If you are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can recover at home. Follow CDC instructions for how to take care of yourself at home. Know when to get emergency help Get medical attention immediately if you have any of the emergency warning signs listed above. What Others can do to Support Older Adults Community Support for Older Adults Community preparedness planning for COVID-19 should include older adults and people with disabilities, and the organizations that support them in their communities, to ensure their needs are taken into consideration. Many of these individuals live in the community, and many depend on services and supports provided in their homes or in the community to maintain their health and independence. Long-term care facilities should be vigilant to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19. Information for long-term care facilities can be found here. Family and Caregiver Support Know what medications your loved one is taking and see if you can help them have extra on hand. Monitor food and other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) needed and create a back-up plan. Stock up on non-perishable food items to have on hand in your home to minimize trips to stores. If you care for a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the situation, ask about the health of the other residents frequently and know the protocol if there is an outbreak. Prevention and Treatment Get Your Household Ready What to Do if You are Sick This newsletter is produced by Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/senior for more information. Or email us at ads@montgomerycountymd.gov

National Alliance for Caregiving - March Newsletter

Senate Passes Respite Care Bill; Tips for Your Caregiving Journey

March 2, 2020 Senate Passes Respite Care Program Revival Bill "Members of the Senate have voted unanimously to pass S. 995, the Senate’s version of the  'Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019' bill. S. 995 would provide $50 million in state respite care grant funding from 2020 through 2024. [Senator Susan] Collins [R-ME] said in a comment included in a bill passage announcement that respite call is essential for all caregivers. 'It helps to reduce the mental stress and physical health issues they may experience,' Collins said. 'With Senate passage of our bill, we are one step closer to giving family caregivers and their loved ones the support they need by ensuring that quality respite care is available and accessible.' From: ThinkAdvisor | February 26, 2020 SEE MORE > How to Explain a Caregiver Gap on Your Resume "'There's nothing wrong with putting caregiving on your résumé like a job. Instead of a position with a company, write the dates you were out and something like, provided full time care for parent, who has died. That explains that the situation is resolved.' But don't be apologetic, whether on your résumé or in a face-to-face interview. I 'Caregiving is a huge responsibility that requires skills of advocacy, persuasiveness, resilience. Keep your explanation simple, one or two sentences, but don't hide or belittle what you've done,' advised Meehl. 'Talk about how taking a detour was enriching.' From: Star Tribune | February 25, 2020 SEE MORE > How to Balance Parenting and Elder Caregiving "Family circumstances, the child’s age and the adult’s condition all factor into what sort of role your child can play. But remember that modeling healthy caregiving today could have an impact down the road when you grow older and become more reliant on your kids. Patience has become a commodity as the strain of caregiving and parenting pulls me in different directions. I find myself getting short; sometimes with her, other times with the kids. The immediate reaction of guilt looms over me when this happens. I reached out to my colleague Ruth Drew at the Alzheimer’s Association for some guidance." I From: Life Hacker | February 26, 2020 SEE MORE > Saturday is Rare Disease Day! Rare Disease Day is the official international awareness-raising campaign for rare diseases, originally launched by EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe and its Council of National Alliances in 2008. Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year, and the goal of the campaign is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients' lives. There are over 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease. Rare disease patients across borders, and across the more than 6,000 rare disease conditions, need more equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, care, and social opportunity. In 2018, NAC and Global Genes released a report outlining the state of caregiving for rare disease caregivers. See the findings HERE. Join us in raising awareness about rare diseases and their impact on patients' and caregivers' lives. Click the link below to participate in Rare Disease Day 2020! LEARN MORE > New Caregiving Research from the CDC A new report from the CDC on caregiver health was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) last week using data from 44 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The report adds to the existing knowledge of informal caregivers' compromised health with new data showing that 20% of caregivers report fair or poor health. The report also gives insight into how this statistic varies across states, ranging from 11.7% to 34.4%. The study was selected as one of the week's lead articles for the MMWR. Click the link below to read the research. SEE MORE > RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY! George Washington University Caregiver Research Study A research study at George Washington University, investigating the cognitive and physiological effects of Black American caregivers, is looking for volunteers to participate! You may be eligible to participate if: ·     You are an adult Black male between the ages of 40-85; ·     You are caring for a family member or loved one (spouse, sibling, or parents, family friend) diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia; ·     You agree to participate in the study. The study involves: ·     1 study visit lasting 2-3 hours; ·     Questionnaires about health, sleep, and stress; ·     Saliva samples; ·     Memory and thinking tests; ·     Compensation of up to $75 and travel reimbursement. Click the link below to learn how to get involved! E-mail rwturner124@email.gwu.edu or call (202) 994-1728 for more information. LEARN MORE > UPCOMING CONFERENCE! National Caregivers Conference: The Spirit of Resilience October 15-16, 2020 | Philadelphia, PA The National Caregivers Conference is renowned for its national level speakers, workshops and exhibitors who address both individual and national issues facing the caregiving community. This year's conference, held in Philadelphia, PA in October, is dedicated to creating spaces for collaboration, learning, and healing to support and elevate the role of caregiving nationwide. The National Caregivers Conference invites presenters to submit proposals that provide quality-driven, evidence-based, culturally competent solutions for caregiving best practices. Submit speaker proposals HERE by February 29th. Do you have a new idea, product, technology or therapeutic concept that can impact the role of family caregivers? Apply by April 30th for an opportunity to present to a panel of judges (Sharks), venture capitalists, leading industry investors, healthcare providers, and caregiver at the conference! Apply HERE by April 30th! LEARN MORE > FOLLOW US TO STAY CURRENT ON CAREGIVING! ‌ ‌ ‌

National Alliance for Caregiving | 1730 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Suite 812, Washington, DC 20036