Tag Archives: Family Caregiving

‘Good Talk Toolkit’ Released to Aid Advanced Care Planning

News and Updates, ,

Based on public messaging research, the Massachusetts Coalition on Serious Illness Care developed the Good Talk Toolkit to be a resource that supplements your organization’s capacity to build awareness and understanding for advance care planning.

The messaging and campaign are intended to shift the frame of advance care planning away from “end of life” and “life-sustaining treatment choices” towards goals of care, quality of life and shared decision making thus also bringing it into closer alignment with palliative care principles. Continue reading →

New “Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition” Launched by Leaders in Business, Health Care, Education & Government

Data and Reports, News and Updates,

Leaders from business, health care, education and state government launched a new “Massachusetts Caregiver Coalition,” a collaboration that includes businesses from diverse industry sectors working with the state to assess and address the needs of unpaid family caregivers in Massachusetts. The group’s launch this week is marked by the release of a Massachusetts State of Care Report and Employer Toolkit, which highlight research and best practices for employers to support working family caregivers. Continue reading →

Baker Administration Proclaims November 2019 as Family Caregivers Month

News and Updates

In support of the more than 844,000 Massachusetts residents who provide frequent or daily care to their family members, the Baker-Polito Administration has proclaimed November 2019 as Family Caregivers Month in the Commonwealth.

Online Resources to Support Family Caregivers:

The Commonwealth offers a number of services to help caregivers. This Mass.gov topic page linked below brings together a number of state health and social services in one place to help caregivers find the information they need, based on their unique situation:

Mass.Gov Topic Page on Caregiving

The Family Caregiver Support Program provides advice and support through the services of Caregiver Specialist for residents caring for an older family member, a relative with a disability, or an older relative caring for a child. Caregiver Specialists serve at regional aging services agencies that cover every community in Massachusetts:

The Massachusetts Family Caregiver Support Program (Mass.gov/Caregiver)

The page linked below includes caregiving tips and resources that caregivers may need for providing care both at home and in other settings:

Caregiver Tips and Information

The majority of family caregivers work full or part-time jobs in addition to their caregiver responsibilities, and many employers are finding creative ways to support their employees. This web page below provides employers resources on how to make the workplace more welcoming for caregivers.

Caregiving Information for Workplaces

In addition to online resources, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs also supports MassOptions, an aging and disability information, and referral call center. MassOptions is a free service that helps older residents, people with disabilities, and caregivers connect with support services in their area. The service can be reached Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, by calling toll-free 1-844-422-6277.

Honoring Choices MA Supports Age- and Dementia Friendly Communities

News and Updates, Programs, ,

More than 1,000 Honoring Choices partners and Health Care Planning Ambassadors are working in their local communities to help adults make a personal health care plan and get connected to essential care to improve healthy living.

Honoring Choices is now connecting this important work to Age- And Dementia Friendly Community efforts across Massachusetts via a new web page using Framingham as an example.

Continue reading →

Healthy Living Center of Excellence Recognized by NCOA

News and Updates, ,

The National Council on Aging (NCOA), a trusted national leader working to ensure that every person can age well, is honoring more than a dozen women, men, and organizations around the country who are working toward a just and caring society that allows all of us to age with dignity, purpose, and security. Among the honorees is the Healthy Living Center of Excellence, a partner and Executive Committee member of the Healthy Aging Collaborative. Continue reading →

Home Alone Revisited: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Care

Data and Reports, ,

AARP’s Public Policy Institute announced a follow-up study that builds on the landmark Home Alone study, which was the first national look at how family caregivers are managing medical/nursing tasks, such as managing medications, changing dressings, and other tasks in the home setting, that are typically performed by trained professionals in hospitals.

The new study – called Home Alone Revisited, focuses on cross-generational and multicultural caregivers and provides a list of 10 recommendations based on their findings.

Continue reading →

Diverse Elders Coalition Launches New Caregiving Community Survey

News and Updates,

The Diverse Elders Coalition recently launched a new online survey for family caregivers in communities of color, American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The Caregiving Community Survey is an opportunity for anyone providing care for an aging spouse, partner, parent, grandparent, other relative, neighbor, or friend to anonymously share their experiences and help the Diverse Elders Coalition develop tools and resources to better meet the needs of our communities. Continue reading →

AARP Wins Award for Video Celebrating Men as Family Caregivers

Programs, Stories from the Field

AARP recently won a prominent “Sharecare Award” for its video spotlighting men as family caregivers, raising attention to an often hidden but vitally important group of people.

Co-produced with AARP Studios, the 3-minute video offers an inside look at a gathering of African-American men from Philadelphia who support one another and openly share their unique challenges. Continue reading →