NATIVE ELDER CAREGIVER CURRICULUM NECC: 3.4 CAREGIVERS & RESOURCES Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources 3.4 1

Caregivers & Resources* Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Families are important !  Informal system (FAMILY & FRIENDS) provides the most long-term care to elderly with limitations in ADLs & IADLs  Nationally, over 90 % of older people who need assistance are helped by a family member or friend !  Caregivers often give up a job or make a major change in a job to be able to help an elderly

Importance of Care for the Caregiver Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  “Without formal services available, rural elderly must rely even more heavily on family and friends for assistance. Policymakers would do well to consider building on the informal structures already in place in rural areas by supporting family caregiver assistance programs and emphasizing the unique rural challenges for rural family caregivers” * *cited in Family Caregiver Support of the Rural Elderly National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services – ruralcommittee.hrsa.gov/NAC06Report.htm

Importance of Care for the Caregiver Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  “Informal caregiving is the backbone of the American long-term care system where the value of the service provided by informal caregivers is estimated to be $257 billion annually, two times the amount currently spent on homecare and nursing home care.” * *cited in Family Caregiver Support of the Rural Elderly National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services – ruralcommittee.hrsa.gov/NAC06Report.htm

Care for the Caregiver* Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Commitment of Caregivers is to be respected  Challenge to Caregivers is also to be appreciated !  Can take a toll on their own health over time  Can become Stressful !! Causing anger, guilt, financial difficulty, depression Even elder-abuse can result

Family Caregivers for Native Elderly Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session TRADITIONAL VALUES  Deep commitment among Native families to care for their elders  Deep commitment among Native Elders to care for their families

Family Caregivers for Native Elderly Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  “Our goal as the next generation is to pay back our elders for their contributions to our families, societies, and communities by doing our best to increase or maintain their quality of life by providing them autonomy in how they wish to live” *  * McDonald, et al. 2008, p.65

Care for the Caregiver* Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Risk for Elderly… when Caregiver “burns out”…  More likely for the elderly person to be hospitalized  More likely for the elderly person to be placed in nursing home

Care for the Caregiver* Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session Top 5 Unmet Needs of Caregivers in the U.S. * LACK OF:  resources to provide range of services  respite options  public awareness about caregiver issues  health care providers  access to services in rural areas

Care for the Caregiver* Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Caregivers often have same kinds of difficulties as their elderly family members with:  Transportation  Access to health care services  Housing issues  Financial issues  Family issues

Care for the Caregiver* Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  What kinds of services are needed for Family Caregivers?  Information  Assistance  Counseling  Respite  Supplemental Services ( * references in narrative portion of curriculum)

What would help the most? Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Recommendations need to come from each Tribal Community to meet specific needs  Each Tribe will have its specific issues  However, good examples of recommendations have been made by Tribal people…

Examples of Tribal Recommendations Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session Bring people together to talk & plan what YOUR community needs… In YOUR part of the world !

Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Identify & bring shareholders together!  Tap into their knowledge & expertise  Multiply the ideas! SYNERGY! Recommendations

Sharing Ideas is Important Caring for Our Elders: Navigating the System

Community Discussion is Recommended with Elders & Providers Caring for Our Elders: Navigating the System

Examples: Tribally Identified Needs Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Access to Information Resources  Improved Access to Health Care Resources  Respite Care  IN-HOME Personal Care Services

Examples: Tribally Identified Needs Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Chore Services  Heavy cleaning, snow shoveling, yard work  Temporary rehabilitation options  Health education & exercise options  Honoring of cultural expectations in caregiving

Examples: Tribal Recommendations Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Common central location to serve as :  nutrition site for congregate meals  caregiver resource center  social resource information center  “one-stop” referral & advocacy base  place to socialize

Examples: Tribal Recommendations Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  “Navigator”  For each Local community district  Designated person to cut through the “maze” of access issues  Serve as advocate  Serve as referral source  Serve as “coach”

Examples: Tribal Recommendations Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Handicapped accessible vehicles  With lifts for wheelchairs  Extra garages, maintenance system for transportation of elders  Available equipment for safety in the home  Shower grab bars, toilet risers, etc.  Supply of undergarments for those in need  No funding source for incontinent products

Examples: Tribal Recommendations Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Community Elder Outreach Workers  Home services, such as installing grab- bars, railings, taking care of heavy chores & cleaning, yard work, snow removal  Identify a Tribal Leader specifically assigned to advocate for elderly  Diabetes specialist for eldercare

Caregiving is Important… for all generations Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session

Caregiving is important! Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session  Working together to thank our elders… and value our caregivers! 

Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session