National Alliance for Caregiving

The National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Foundation Launch New Grants Program: Innovations in Caregiving

NAC — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:10:06 +0000

April 16, 2012 – Washington, D.C. – Today, MetLife Foundation and National Alliance for Caregiving announced the recipients of the new Innovations in Caregiving Grants Program. Five organizations received grants to replicate family caregiver education and support programs in their local communities. The grants will provide $10,000 to each organization for startup funds to adapt programs/best practices that were identified as model programs of the previous MetLife Foundation/National Alliance for Caregiving Family Caregiving Awards initiative which ran from 2006-2010.

These five winners were chosen based on their innovation, collaboration, sustainability and effectiveness in replicating a program/best practice for caregiver needs in their own communities.

“The startup funds for these award-winning replication programs will offer caregivers in these communities a new quality of support that can make a positive difference in the challenges they face as caregivers..” – Gail Gibson Hunt, President & CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving.

This year’s award winners are:

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul, MN for replicating Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a six-week education program that helps family caregivers of older adults to develop and practice self-care “tools” to thrive as individuals while managing caregiving responsibilities, specifically for the Hmong American community in St. Paul.
Friends in Action, A Program of Mountain State Group of Boise, ID for replicating DARTS Workplace Eldercare Seminars, a program to enhance caregiver resourcefulness, competence and confidence as well as assist employers in providing work-life balance for caregivers.
The Arc of King County of Seattle, WA for replicating Parent Advocacy Group, a program of regularly scheduled meetings where families of adults with developmental disabilities can learn about important issues, meet other families in similar circumstances, and receive training in advocacy for themselves and their loved one.
ALS Association Florida Chapter of Tampa, FL for replicating Caregiver Connection Telephone Support Group, a program to meet the needs of family members caring for people with ALS. Support group facilitators will adapt an already established curriculum to add disease-specific information and coping skills needed by ALS caregivers.
Oakland County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Auburn Hills, MI for replicating Interfaith CarePartners, a program that will mobilize volunteers and resources in local congregations and the community, offering an array of direct services such as transportation, chores, housekeeping, repairs and friendly visits, as well as resources, education and support for family caregivers, including in-home respite.

The non-profit grantees are awarded $10,000 to replicate a previous award winning program from the National Family Caregiving Awards Replication Guide. To win the award, non-profit organizations competed from around the country, submitting applications on how their community would benefit from replicating one of the programs from the guidebook. They were then judged by a panel of family caregiving experts, who determined the five winning finalists.

“We congratulate these winning organizations and the important contributions they will make to family caregiving in their communities,” said Dennis White, President and CEO, MetLife Foundation. “These organizations will provide innovative programs that will improve the quality of life for families and their caregivers.”

Family caregiving has a value to society estimated at $450 billion per year-more than the value of home care and nursing care combined. At least 65 million adults provide critical care that helps friends and loved ones with debilitating illnesses remain in their homes and other community settings. An estimated 80% of all care received by older Americans is provided by family members – spouses, children, grandchildren and other relatives. Managing the competing priorities of work and family, in addition to caregiving, is stressful and costly and can exact a heavy toll, resulting in burn-out and health problems. Experts anticipate that family caregiving will grow in the decades ahead.

About MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Our commitment to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide is reflected in our dedication to empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $530 million in grants to nonprofit organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. For more information visit www.metlife.org

About National Alliance for Caregiving

Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is dedicated to being the foremost national resource on family caregiving to improve the quality of life for families and care recipients. Established in 1996, the Alliance is a non-profit coalition of more than 40 national organizations focusing on family caregiving. The Alliance is the leading provider of caregiving research across health issues, life issues and across the lifespan. From research to policy analysis to promoting national best-practices, the Alliance works to increase public awareness of this vital healthcare asset – the American family caregiver. Empowering Family Caregivers through Research, Awareness & Advocacy!

For more information on the grant program and detailed profiles of the award winners, visit the website of the National Alliance for Caregiving, www.caregiving.org.

6th National Conference for Caregiving Coalitions

NAC — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:30:15 +0000

Please join us in Denver on July 10th for the 6th National Conference for Caregiving Coalitions, hosted by the National Alliance for Caregiving.
On this page updates will appear about the agenda and other information that we would like to share.

Registration is now OPEN! Please click here for details on how to register for our conference, through the n4a website. If you are only attending our conference be sure to register for Tuesday July 10th!!

SCHOLARSHIPS!

We are pleased to announce that 10 Scholarships will be awarded this year to 10 different family caregiving coalitions.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Healthcare Costs Increase as Person with Dementia Declines

NAC — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:19:26 +0000

Caregiving Costs: Declining Health in the Alzheimer’s Caregiver as Dementia Increases in the Care Recipient study

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can impact your own health and increase healthcare costs. This latest Alliance study shows a significant decrease in family caregiver health as their care recipient’s dementia increases. While there are studies that indicate that the health of family caregivers may be adversely affected, especially as their caregiving continues and becomes more intense, this study specifically examines the use of formal health services in a large sample of Alzheimer’s disease caregivers.

Read more about these newest insights in Alzheimer’s care.

Accepting Applications: Innovations in Caregiving – Seed Grant Opportunity

NAC — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:39:23 +0000

October 2011 – Bethesda, Maryland - The National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Foundation are pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the 2012 Innovations in Caregiving, a new seed grant program that will provide startup funds of $10,000 to five non-profit organizations for new caregiving education and support programs. The request for applications is available online at http://web.raffa.com/nac/caregiver_awards.

Over the past five years, many innovative and effective caregiving programs have been identified through the MetLife Foundation/National Alliance for Caregiving National Family Caregiving Awards. Since 2006, 44 community-based organizations, agencies, and universities were awarded grants to both honor their exemplary programs and enhance their caregiving efforts. In addition, the awards’ program has helped to raise awareness about caregiving issues around the country and stimulate the aging network to replicate these established and successful caregiving innovations.

MetLife Foundation and the National Alliance for Caregiving launched this new grants program to stimulate replication of the exemplary caregiver education and support programs and best practices that were identified by the National Family Caregiving Awards. Innovations in Caregiving will provide financial support to five non-profit organizations, agencies, and universities to replicate the best innovations identified through the National Family Caregiving Awards program.

The seed grants will provide startup funds for new caregiving programs that adapt previous programs/best practices to the unique needs of caregivers in their own communities. Grantees are encouraged to develop plans for sustaining these replicated programs. As a resource for applicants and the caregiving community in general, a Replication Guide has been created that features the winners of the National Family Caregiving Awards. To view this guide, visit: http://web.raffa.com/nac/caregiver_awards.

Five grants of up to $10,000 will be given to non-profit organizations chosen by an Advisory Committee, consisting of experts in caregiving including, former National Family Caregiving Award winners.

Applicants are also required to submit a timeline and budget in their proposal. The deadline for application is January 27, 2012.

For additional information about this program, contact Jordan Green at jordan@caregiving.org.

Free Informational Webinar

The National Alliance for Caregiving hosted a free webinar on November 29, 2011 at 3:00 pm EST to discuss its Innovations in Caregiving grants program opportunity. MetLife Foundation and the National Alliance for Caregiving launched this new grants program to stimulate replication of the exemplary caregiver education and support programs and best practices that were identified by the National Family Caregiving Awards. Innovations in Caregiving will provide financial support of up to $10,000 to five non-profit organizations, agencies, and universities to replicate the best innovations identified through the National Family Caregiving Awards program.

During this webinar, a select group of National Family Caregiving Award winners discussed their programs in detail and showed ways that the applicants can replicate their programs. The award winners also answered questions from those wishing to apply for an Innovations in Caregiving grant.

To view this archived webinar, click on the link below:

http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=83575

Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents

NAC — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:43:58 +0000

Nearly 10 million adult children over the age of 50 care for their aging parents. These family caregivers are themselves aging as well as providing care at a time when they also need to be planning and saving for their own retirement. The MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs to Working Caregivers: Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents was produced by the MetLife Mature Market Institute in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Long Term Care Research and Policy at New York Medical College. The study analyzes data from the 2008 panel of the National Health and Retirement Study (HRS) combined with estimates to determine the extent to which older adult children provide care to their parents, the roles gender and work play in that caregiving, and the potential cost to the caregiver in lost wages and future retirement income as a result of their support.

The MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs to Working Caregivers – Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents
Full report (6/2011)

Caregivers of Veterans – Serving the Homefront

NAC — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:52:54 +0000

Caregiving in the U.S. showed that 11% of all caregivers of adults have served in the armed forces, and 17% of their care recipients are veterans. With increased interest around caregivers of veterans in the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ strategic plan (2009) and the recently passed Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, it became clear how valuable it would be to have a more in-depth qualitative and quantitative portrait of this special set of caregivers. The study combines qualitative results from a series of focus groups and in-depth telephone interviews with quantitative data from an online survey. Together, the three-part study provides information for policymakers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), community agencies, non-profit organizations, and business and industry to better target programs to the needs of this special group of caregivers who are caring for those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

Caregivers of Veterans – Serving on the Homefront Report of Study Findings, Full Report (11/2010)
Caregivers of Veterans – Serving on the Homefront Report of Study Findings, Exec. Summary (11/2010)

Caregivers Want Web and Mobile

NAC — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:35:12 +0000

Family Caregivers Want Web-Based and Mobile Technologies to Help Them Care for Their Loved Ones

A new survey reveals that the technology advances that have transformed how Americans work, play and interact have potential to alleviate the growing financial and emotional burdens on family members caring for sick or disabled loved ones. The e-Connected Family Caregiver: Bringing Caregiving into the 21st Century study, released today by the National Alliance for Caregiving and UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, found more than two-thirds of family caregivers who have used some form of technology to help them with caregiving believe web-based and mobile technologies designed to facilitate caregiving would be helpful to them. Family caregivers provide an estimated $375 billion worth of uncompensated care to loved ones annually. Previous studies have shown that many lack support systems and tools that could ease the burden financially and emotionally.

e-Connected Family Caregiver: Bringing Caregiving into the 21st Century, Full Report (January 2011)
e-Connected Family Caregiver: Bringing Caregiving into the 21st Century, Fact Sheet (January 2011)
e-Connected Family Caregiver: Bringing Caregiving into the 21st Century, Press Release (January 2011)

What Made You Think Mom Had Alzheimer’s?

NAC — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:17:16 +0000

Balance of Positive and Negative Aspects for Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia

Caregivers’ Views Related to Stage of Loved One’s Illness and Whether Caregiver Had a Choice in Assuming Responsibility.

One-half of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia surveyed for a new caregiver study find an equal balance of positive and negative experiences in their caregiving. One-third (33 percent) say their caregiving experience is more positive than negative.

What Made You Think Mom Had Alzheimer’s? – 2011, Full Report (March 2011)
What Made You Think Mom Had Alzheimer’s? – 2011, Press Release (March 2011)