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Caregiver Support

Reducing the Stress of Caring for Family Members

“There are only four kinds of people in the world- those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.”
-Rosalynn Carter

New: Free Resource Helps Family Caregivers Desiring Pay

Community Foundation Offers Caregivers' Compensation Guide

The Community Foundation is proud to announce our new Caregivers' Compensation Guide! Many local family caregivers have reached out to the Community Foundation and asked how they can get paid as a family caregiver.

Our Caregivers' Compensation Guide, which was made available this month (July 2021), shows how you can get paid while taking care of an aging family member in Nevada.

Download a free copy of the Caregivers' Compensation Guide by using the button below. Or, you can pick up a copy at the Community Foundation during weekday business hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., 50 Washington Street, Suite 300. For any questions, please call 775-333-5499.

The Caregivers' Compensation Guide was created by the dedicated volunteers of the Caregiver Support Initiative.   We would like to thank the following individuals for dedicating their time and sharing their expertise in creating the guide: Cheryl Dinnell | Anna Olsen-Figueroa | Deanna Hearn | Rachel Jelenic | Eduardo Martinez | Jean Myles | Lora Myles | Ann Schaack.  Thank you! 
The Caregivers' Compensation Guide was created by the dedicated volunteers of the Caregiver Support Initiative.  We would like to thank the following individuals for dedicating their time and sharing their expertise in creating the guide: Cheryl Dinnell | Anna Olsen-Figueroa | Deanna Hearn | Rachel Jelenic | Eduardo Martinez | Jean Myles | Lora Myles | Ann Schaack.  Thank you!

Caregiving in Washoe County

The Community Foundation’s Caregiver Support Initiative is aimed at addressing the needs of unpaid family caregivers to seniors in Washoe County. As our community continues to age, it is crucial that we address the needs of the caregivers who play the important role of keeping our seniors healthy and happy.  Caregivers are often overlooked, but through this initiative, we have listened to, learned from, and worked with caregivers to help create tools to alleviate some of the stress that caregiving brings. Over the last year, the Caregiver Support Initiative created an online resource database and a caregiver guidebook. Both these aids are now available for free in our community!

Caregiver

NevadaCaregivers.org

 

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nevada-caregivers-homepage

https://NevadaCaregivers.org/ is the most extensive resource database our community has for caregivers and seniors. It lists over 300 useful community and national resources that are easily searchable and broken up into categories.

In addition to connecting caregivers with local resources, https://nevadacaregivers.org/ also provides information about common questions that caregivers have, downloadable documents that caregivers may need, and a community blog for caregivers to share their personal experiences. The site is designed to be easy to navigate for all ages and has been tested by local caregivers. This resource database will be kept up-to-date and the information for each resource will be verified every six months.

Nevada Caregivers Guidebook

The free Nevada Caregivers guidebook is designed to benefit first-time caregivers as they begin their caregiving journey. This guidebook has been written by experts and caregivers in the Reno area and covers topics involved in caregiving. Information about self-care for the caregiver, planning (financial and legal), home safety, techniques for communicating with health care professionals, and more are written in a personal, easy-to-follow style.

Nevada Caregivers: Your Guide to the Basics of Beginning Care, is FREE and is available at hospitals, nonprofits, community centers, and online. To access the guidebook, visit https://nevadacaregivers.org/documents/nevada-caregivers-guidebook/ for a downloadable version or visit the Community Foundation to pick up a printed version.

Thanks to a generous gift from Nature’s Bakery, a Spanish language version of Nevada Caregivers guidebook is available.

Both the resource database and the guidebook are now available! We hope caregivers in our community will benefit greatly from these tools.

Everything we do is a service of love that needs to be supported.

Book
Washoe Caregivers Guidebook

Family Caregiver Email Discussion Group

Connect with other family caregivers. Share advice and ask each other questions about caregiving.
To register as a member: click here.

Let’s say you are trying to get better at self-care, but don’t know how to begin. Send an email and ask, “How can I take time for myself without feeling guilty?”

Members of the group can respond to your question. When another member responds to your question, you will simply receive a response through your email. You can also share experiences and answer questions of other members in the group.

The Community Foundation moderates each message to ensure the highest quality of experience for each member. Once your question has been approved, it will be visible to the group.

If you have any questions, please contact the Community Foundation at 775-333-5499.

Click here for detailed instructions on the discussion group.

Click here to read the community guidelines.

Deana Hearn is a member of the Caregiver Support Initiative Steering Committee

Caregiving Blog

Posts on washoecaregivers.org written for the website by members of the Caregiver Support Initiative Steering Committee, local caregivers, and professionals in caregiving, senior health, or social services.

Why Support Groups are Essential for Caregivers by Kelli Hirt

Falls and Fall Prevention Among Older Adults by Lawrence J.Weiss, PhD

Caring for my Father in the time of a Pandemic by Bonnie Read

Family Caregives During a Pandemic by Niki Rubarth

Supporting Veterans Through Technology by Tod Sherman

Perceptions in Caregiving by Vic Railton

Losing My Husband from Dementia and COVID-19 by Nettie Oliverio

Tips for Hiring a Caregiver by William Palmer

Caregiving During the Holidays, by Luiza Benisano

Elder Abuse During the Time of COVID-19 by Luiza Benisano, Jean Myles, Lora Myles and William Palmer

Community Foundation 2019 Impact Report on the Caregiver Support Initiative

Mental Health for Seniors During COVID-19 by Luiza Benisano

Caregiving During COVID-19 by Luiza Benisano

Respite Care and its Barriers by Marta Malone

Respite Care and Why it is Important by Marta Malone

Recognizing When You Need a Break by Mary Block

Jean Myles Caregiver Steering Committee member

Washoe Caregivers Monthly Updates

Caregiver Support Initiative Updates

Older Americans Month May 2021 Update

May 02, 2021

"Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn't know possible." - Tia Walker Washoe Caregivers Survey - Win a $100 Gift...

Aging and Awesome March 2021 Update

March 02, 2021

"Doctors diagnose, nurses heal, and caregivers make sense of it all" - Brett H. Lewis COVID-19 Vaccine Update Appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations for seniors...

Supporting Veterans Through Technology February 2021 Update

February 02, 2021

"There will come a time when your loved one will be gone, and you will find comfort in the fact that you...

Perceptions of Caregiving January 2021 Update

January 02, 2021

"You will never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today." - Amy Leigh Mercree, author COVID-19 Vaccine Update for...

Bright Moments December 2020 Update

December 02, 2020

"The more loving we can be, the more powerful we become." - Silvia Hartmann Caregiver Support Initiative Email Discussion Group The Caregiver Support Initiative...

Activities to Ease Stress November 2020 Update

November 02, 2020

Caregiver Support Initiative Email Discussion Group The Caregiver Support Initiative Email Discussion Group is a virtual forum for family caregivers to connect with...

Activities to Do While Isolating September 2020 Update

September 02, 2020

"Caregiving has no second agendas or hidden motives. The care is given from love for the joy of giving without expectation, no...

Email Discussion Group Stories August 2020 Update

August 02, 2020

"We change the world when we simply meet the needs of another." - Kristen Welch Caregiver Support Initiative Email Discussion Group The Caregiver Support...

Mental Health for Seniors June 2020 Update

June 02, 2020

"Caregivers are superheroes in comfortable clothes." - Anonymous Mental Health for Seniors During COVID-19 Luiza Benisano wrote a new blog on why it is...

You Need a Break! Respite Care May 2020 Update

May 02, 2020

Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. Those who walked before us have given so much and made...

Email Discussion Group Open April 2020 Update

April 01, 2020

"Caring about others, running the risks of feeling, and leaving an impact on people, brings happiness." - Harold Kushner, Rabbi I Connect with Family...

COVID-19 Relief Fund March 2020 Update

March 01, 2020

"The Simple Act of Caring is Heroic." - Edward Albert, Actor COVID-19 Relief Fund for Northern Nevada The Community Foundation opened a charitable relief...

What is Palliative Care? February 2020 Update

February 01, 2020

"One person caring about another represents life's greatest value." - Jim Rohn Caregiver Support Initiative The Community Foundation's Luiza Benisano distributed guidebooks at the...

Why Support Groups are Important January 2020 Update

January 01, 2020

"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing." - Mother Theresa Why Support Groups are...

Cost of Unresolved Grief December 2019 Update

December 01, 2019

"In the heart of every caregiver is a knowing that we are all connected. As I do for you, I do for...

Seek Information November 2019 Update

November 01, 2019

"Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves." - Mason Cooley Community Presentations The Community Foundation's Nick Tscheekar...

What is Caregiver Burnout? October 2019 Update

October 01, 2019

To care those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors." - Tia Walker Community Presentations We are open to presenting...

Isolation August 2019 Update

August 01, 2019

Caregiver Support Initiative Email Discussion Group The Caregiver Support Initiative Email Discussion Group is a virtual forum for family caregivers to connect with...

Common Question for Caregivers July 2019 Update

July 01, 2019

"Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference...

Self-care for the Caregiver June 2019 Update

June 01, 2019

"Caregivers attract caregivers and live in a community of love. They are energized by their caring, fulfilled, and they love life." -...

When Friends Become Too Much May 2019 Update

May 01, 2019

"From Caring Comes Courage." - Lao Tzu Preventing Financial Scams Convening We are calling all individuals who care to join us in discussing ideas...

Community Presentations April 2019 Update

April 01, 2019

"The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else." - Carson McCullers Rotary Club and Assistance League Presentations The Community...

Caregiver Employee Toolkit - March 2019 Update

March 22, 2019

"It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives; nourish it then that it may leaf and bloom...

Women's Heart Health - February 2019 Update

March 05, 2019

"Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn't know possible." - Tia Walker Women's Heart Health February is Women's Heart Health month. Did...

Caregiver Support Initiative January Update

February 05, 2019

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the...

Washoe Caregivers Evaluation

December 06, 2018

November 2018 Update "From caring comes courage." - Lao Tzu Washoe Caregivers Evaluation During the fall of 2016, approximately 150 people participated in community convenings...

Caregivers in the Workforce: Balancing Life, Work, and Policy

March 23, 2018

Through the Caregiver Support Initiative, it has become clear that those of us who care for a family member at home AND...

Caregiver Support Initiative Update

May 19, 2017

Two Caregiver Support Initiative action items are nearing public release. This is not a “one and done” effort. I believe this initiative will permanently...

For a healthy community to happen it is going to take a partnership across the whole community - everyone working together to support each other.

- Sy Johnson, Trustee, Chief of Staff Renown Health