Caregiver Support
The Area Agency on Aging sponsors services to support non-paid caregivers of frail older adults who need services to maintain independent living.
Contact Information Aging Information Specialists
(913) 715-8861
(888) 214-4404 - toll free
Contact Aging Information
How do I know if I am a caregiver?
Why do you help caregivers?
What services are available for caregivers?
How do I qualify for caregiver support services?
How much do caregiver support services cost?
Who provides the service?
What information is available about caregiving?
How do I know if I am a caregiver?
Most people assume a caregiving role over time. They may start by driving a family member to a doctor’s appointment and later take on more supportive duties such as laundry, bill paying or grocery shopping. If a friend or family member depends upon you for help, you are a caregiver.
Why do you help caregivers?
We provide services for caregivers to support them in their caregiving role. Caregivers take on added responsibilities when they assist an older family member or friend. Commonly, they juggle the needs of the family member or friend with other existing obligations such as work, marriage and children. Caregivers often neglect their own needs to be of help to an older adult.
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What services are available for caregivers?
• Assessment –an in-home meeting with a potential client to review the caregiving situation, determine needs for services to support the caregiving role and develop a plan of services.
• Counseling – identification of caregiving concerns and identification of approaches to resolving those concerns.
• In-Home services - such as attendant care, homemaking and chore service for the older adult who is the focus of caregiving.
• Supplemental Support Services – services or supplies needed to ease the burden of the caregiver.
• Geriatric Care Management
• Meals-on-Wheels
• Respite Care – temporary relief of caregiving responsibilities for primary caregivers.
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How do I qualify for caregiver support services?
Any non-paid caregiver of an adult age 60 and over who resides in Johnson County can ask for caregiver support services.
How much do caregiver in-home services cost?
Some Family Caregiver Support Initiative services are provided free-of-charge. Other direct services are available on a sliding scale or donation basis, depending on the type of service.
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Who provides the service?
The AAA contracts with community-based service agencies to provide services such as homemaking, attendant care, chore or medication management and respite care services. The AAA provides the assessment, geriatric care management and meals available through the Johnson County Meals on Wheels program.
What information is available about caregiving?
The Area Agency on Aging offers a free monthly newsletter "The Caregiver Assistance News" with topics of interest to caregivers. The newsletter is now available online. Johnson County caregivers may start receiving the newsletter at home by calling 913-715-8860; or current subscribers may call to "opt-in" and read the newsletter online instead. The publication is funded through Older Americans Act III-E Family Caregiver Support Funds.
| January 2012 | February 2012 | March 2012 |
| April 2012 | May 2012 | June 2011 |
| July 2011 | August 2011 | September 2011 |
| October 2011 | November 2011 | December 2011 |
Caregivers may also enjoy "Take Care!" the caregiver newsletter available
from the National Family Caregivers
Association. See their Caregiving Resources page to read or sign up for their
quarterly newsletter.
The AAA also offers brochures with tips for
caregivers, the “Kansas Caregiver Guide,” published by the Kansas Department
on Aging, and information on a variety of caregiver books, websites, and
videos. See "Caregiver Information" in Top Topics and Aging
Articles for more on these resources, as well as a new link to the
Veterans Administration's new Caregiver Support Line.
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Other Caregiver Resources in the Metro Area (programs offered by
other agencies)
A metro-wide
KC Caregiver Supportline sponsored by
Shepherd’s Center of KC Central in coordination with the UMKC School of
Social Work and the University of Kansas Landon Center on Aging, is
available to connect caregivers of older adults with programs and services
that meet their needs in Johnson, Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Wyandotte
counties. Call 816-444-1122 or visit
www.sccentral.org for the latest information.
Also you can "Take a Class" in Family Caregiving from the American Red
Cross in Kansas City by checking out the classes on their website
at http://www.kcredcross.org
or by contacting them at 816-931-8400 for information about fees and
schedules. Their Family Caregiving classes offer information on caring
for a parent, spouse or friend in a home setting, and
ensuring a safe environment.
Classes include: legal and financial issues for caregivers, caring for a
loved one with Alzheimers or dementia, heart healthy brain healthy eating,
a caregiver's guide to boundaries and self care, no back attack guide to
helping your loved one without hurting yourself, assisting with personal
care, vital signs and medication management, record-keeping and general
caregiver skills, and the value of sleep for the patient and the caregiver.
A complete list of Caregiver Resources is in our Senior Directory online.
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Human Services
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #1300
Olathe, KS 66061-7056
(913) 715-8800 : voice
(913) 715-8825 : fax