Caregiver Resources - The Family Caregiver Support Program

Serving the areas of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Gosnold,
Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford and Rochester

Are You a Caregiver?
Are you providing unpaid assistance to a spouse, relative or friend who is ill, disabled or needs help with basic activities of daily living? Do you help with rides to the doctor, shopping, meals, bill paying, bathing, grooming, dressing, walking or transferring to a wheelchair, housekeeping, managing medications or arranging services to be provided by others? If you provide one or more services like these, whether or not you live with the person you are helping, you are a caregiver and may be able to receive assistance through the Family Caregiver Support Program.

Caring for a loved one can often be difficult and frustrating. Many families may not know where to turn to ask for help:

• “I'm on call 24 hours a day. It's affecting the rest of my life.”
• “I feel so irritable all the time. I've simply lost my patience.”
• “My wife needs me. What if something happens to me?”
• “I have so many questions and don't know who can help me.”

You don't have to do it alone! Call us today!

Resources and services are available:

In-home or telephone assessments Identifying resources Appropriate referrals Support, guidance and counseling Assistance in implementing service plan Linkages to community support groups One-on-one training Outreach Enhanced Care Management

  Eligibility Requirements:

1. You are caring for your spouse, parent or other relative or friend who is age 60 or older, or who has Alzheimer's disease, or...
2. You are a grandparent age 55 or older who is caring for a child age 18 or younger, or...
3. You are over the age of 55 and caring for a disabled individual who is not your child.

• Co-payments: None
• Income requirements & verifications: None
• Insurance requirements & verifications: None
• Caregiver and/or Recipient does not have to be a Coastline client.
• Services through the Family Caregiver Support Program do not affect any services that recipient may already be receiving.

How does the program work?

1. Referrals are received from the community, various Coastline agency programs and phone calls from Caregivers like you.
2. An assessment is completed by phone or in person and a packet of relevant information is provided to the Caregiver.
3. Assistance is provided to the Caregiver to create an individual service plan that will meet their needs.
4. Services are authorized, if approved.
5. A follow-up call is made and a satisfaction survey is mailed once services have been provided.

The following programs are funded through Title III E of the Older Americans Act:

In-Home Respite Services - Attentive Home Care
Provides in-home companionship services, allowing Caregivers time away from home to attend appointments, to have some time away from caregiving responsibilities or for other personal reasons. For more information, please call Sandra Britto at 508-748-1811.

Social Day Programs - Dartmouth Social Day Care & Fairhaven Supportive Senior Social Day Program
Provides on-site social and physical activity for elders, allowing Caregivers time out for themselves. For more information, please call: Dartmouth - Ana DeBarros 508-991-6018 or Fairhaven - Joyce Cookinham 508-979-4029

Adult Day Health - Project Independence ADH Center
An Adult Day Health program with activities and personal enrichment in a medical setting outside the home. For more information, please call Karen Maciulewicz at 508-997-1441

In-Home Dementia Screening & Education / Local Support Groups
Community Nurse & Hospice Care
A registered nurse experienced in dementia care will provide support, information and education to Caregivers who are assisting an elder who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Local support groups in Acushnet and Fairhaven provide Caregivers with tools to assist them in caring for a loved one with memory impairment. For more information, please call Pat Midurski at 508-996-0368.

Outreach for Non-English speaking Caregivers - Immigrants Assistance Center
The "Outreach for Non-English Speaking Caregivers" program provides translation and assessment, referral and support information for Caregivers. For more information, please call Maria Rozario at 508-996-8113.

Care Management - Community Connections
Provides individualized care management for elderly Caregivers with mentally disabled adult children. For more information, please call Kathy Ferreira at 508-362-1140 x120.

The Family Caregiver Support Program has donated the following books to libraries in the Greater New Bedford Area. Visit or call your local library to find out if these titles are available. Please click on the individual titles below to view more information.

• How To Care For Aging Parents
• The 36-Hour Day
• Caregiving At Home
• Caregiving - The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss & Renewal
  
  
  

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