Caregiver Associations
In addition to support groups, there are several organizations and publications that provide a variety of services to caregivers. Here is a listing of some organizations:
National Alliance for Caregiving
4720 Montgomery Lance, 5th Floor
Bethesda, MD
202-434-2560
info@caregiving.org
The National Alliance for Caregiving is dedicated to providing support to family caregivers and the professionals who help them and to increasing public awareness of issues facing family caregivers.
National Family Caregiver Association
10400 Connecticut Avenue, #500
Kensington, MD 20895-3944
The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) supports, empowers, educates, and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for a chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved one.
Children of Aging Parents (CAPS)
CAPS is a nonprofit, charitable organization whose mission is to assist the nation’s nearly 54 million caregivers of the elderly and chronically ill with reliable information, referrals, and support, and to heighten public awareness that the health of the caregiver is essential to ensure quality care of the nation’s growing elderly population. They may also be reached at 1-800-227-7294.
Founded in 1979, this organization provides educational support and advocacy for asbestos victims and their families.
410-243-5864
Well Spouse Foundation
Well Spouse is a national, not for profit membership organization that gives support to wives, husbands, and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled. It publishes a bi-monthly newsletter and sponsors local support groups.
Today’s Caregiver magazine provides information, support and guidance for family and professional caregivers. Its Web site, www.caregivers.com/, also offers a discussion forum.
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer, employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis through case managers, doctors, and attorneys.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the U.S. Federal Government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. NCI coordinates the National Cancer Programs, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, treatment of, and rehabilitation from cancer. It also helps to provide continuing care to cancer patients and their families.
Other Resources for Caregivers
In addition to the specific resources you find on these pages, there are many other resources and organizations that address caregiving, and services and programs to help you manage the care of your family member. Your local library is a good place to begin the search. Many libraries offer disease-specific articles and publications, information about community resources, and increasingly offer patrons access to the Internet. Find out if your library offers caregiver education programs.
You can also find other resources in your community through your local United Way, hospital or cancer treatment center, or local social service organizations.
For more online resources for caregivers, visit the following websites:
People Living With Cancer
Provides a section for caregivers, including a number of helpful articles and resources.
American Association of Retired People (AARP)
Devotes a section of their Web site to helpful articles about issues caregivers face.
Please understand that as attorneys, we are not medical experts and are not attempting to provide medical advice or endorse any of the associations, resources, or Web sites described here. We are simply providing information that might be helpful to you or a loved one.
