While state funding is provided to caregivers of low-income individuals living with long-term or progressive illness, such as Alzehimer’s and dementia, little attention is given to improve the wellbeing of unpaid family or informal caregivers who provide support to loved ones at their own expense.
That is where Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center comes in.
The Colusa County Dementia/Caregiver Support Group is inviting family members and those providing care to those with progressive illnesses or elderly to meet Del Oro Education Coordinator Simone Nazzai, at a special meeting on Wednesday, July 27.
The meeting will be held at 10 AM inside First Presbyterian’s Fireside Room, 326 Jay St., Colusa.
The mission of Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center is to improve the wellbeing of unpaid family or informal caregivers over the course of their caregiving journey, said Betty Yarwood, support group founder.
Del Oro does that by providing targeted services to the caregivers designed to promote more sustainable caregiving, Yarwood said. Del Oro’s free services include family consultation, specialized information/referrals, education and training, respite care, short-term counseling, and legal/financial consultations.
“I’m so excited about this meeting because they give grants of money to finance caregivers that are not low income,” Yarwood said. “What a novel idea. It just seems that since we started this support group, and we’ve contacted and touched base with these different organizations, now there is more coming out all the time and more interest in our area. That is the whole point of doing this.”
While most caregivers are devoted to the care of their loved one, often a spouse or an elderly parent, studies have shown that caregiving compromises the health of the caregiver.
“About 60 percent of caregivers show signs of clinical depression, and caregivers take more prescription medications, including those for anxiety and depression than others in their age groups,” according to Family Caregiver Alliance, in “A Guide to Taking Care of Yourself.”
The local Dementia/Caregiver Support Group was created to provide resources to caregivers to help them cope with diseases like Alzheimer’s and the challenges of providing care.
“People have asked for speakers,” Yarwood said. “They want local things, local resources, local, local, local, especially with gas prices the way they are. We want to take care of our people here so anything we can do to bring these things to the local community we will do.”
In addition to support group meetings, Yarwood said there is plenty of information available online about caring for those with progressive illnesses.
“It is important that caregivers take care of themselves,” Yarwood said. “Support groups can be an important source of help, understanding, and connection.”
The monthly Dementia/Caregiver Support Group is held at the same time and location (Fireside Room) each fourth Wednesday of the month. There is no cost to attend the Del Oro meeting or the support groups, which have no connection to any religious organization.
In addition to families dealing with Alzheimer’s, anyone who is concerned about health, aging, and risk factors for dementia are also encouraged to attend. ■