Resources for caregivers
Here is a sampling of the websites devoted to caregivers and their needs. Many offer similar services, and you'll want to look at several to see which ones feel like the closest fit with your experience. Many sites have their own lists of resources, other sites and organizations.
www.thefamilycaregiver.org The leading support and advocacy organization for the nation's 50 million family caregivers. Their website offers practical advice for self care, advocacy, and its Caregiver Connection Network. The site's list of other organizations and websites is large and comprehensive. This one's a good place to start.
http://www.sharethecare.org An organization that teaches people how to organize a caregiver support group of family and friends, to share the work and rewards of caring for a person with a terminal illness and avoid caregiver burnout.
www.newhealthpartnerships.org The site offers models and information for helping patients and their families manage their illness more successfully.
www.carepages.com This site offers free, private web pages that enable you to send and receive messages of support and to stay connected to family, friends, co-workers and others who care about you and your loved one. The service may be particularly helpful to people who have recently become caregivers.
www.thehealingproject.org is a non profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of those with life threatening diseases and their families. They offer information, stories of hope, and Voices Who Care, a networking site to connect with others in similar situations.
www.strengthforcaring.com Johnson and Johnson sponsors this site as part of their Caregivers' Initiative. They offer a caregiver's manual, advice about managing stress, and bulletin boards for sharing your experience, asking for advice, and connecting with other caregivers. The section on insurance, Medicare, and finances is a must-read.
