A Guide to Supporting Caregivers

Every day, nearly half a million Connecticut family caregivers help their loved ones live independently at home. Whether it’s dropping off a meal or calling to say “hello,” t here are many ways to appreciate and support family caregivers, but sometimes it’s hard to know how. Whether you provide or receive care, knowing the resources available in your community can be helpful. Here are a few tips from AARP volunteers who have been family caregivers and a comprehensive collection of available resources in Connecticut.

• Acknowledge caregiving can be difficult and say “thank you.”
• Offer to help, and be specific, such as delivering meals on set dates, or asking if you can do a load of laundry.
• Create and gift a “caregiver coupon book” with tasks you can do to help.
• Be present. Check in to say hello and see how they’re doing.
• Share information about caregiving resources, including the URL to this post: aarp.org/ctcaregiving

General Caregiving Resources
A starting point to find services and supports in Connecticut throughout your caregiving journey.

Finances, Planning, and Paying for Care
Paying for care can be confusing and cause financial strain. These resources can help with planning, finding available benefits, and avoiding fraud.

Health Resources
Family caregivers help loved ones manage a wide variety of physical conditions. Many organizations that focus on specific diseases have resources available to help caregivers and support partners.

Long-Term Services and Support
Long-term services and supports (LTSS) include a wide variety of programs and services that assist people with physical, mental, or cognitive disabilities. Many older adults and people with disabilities receive both unpaid care from loved ones and paid LTSS, either at home or in an institutional setting like assisted living or a nursing home.

Get to Know Available Resources in Your Community
From town halls to libraries, learn about the many valuable resources available in communities across Connecticut in a series of video fieldtrips with AARP Volunteer Peter Eder.

• Get to Know Available Resources: Town Hall - The town hall is a great place to discover and learn about resources available on a very local level.
• Get to Know Available Resources: Library - A library is about much more than books. They are very active and community focused places.
• Get to Know Available Resources: Senior Center - Take a trip to a center for older adults who want to stay active in the community – otherwise known as a senior center – to learn about the variety of educational and physical opportunities available.
• Get to Know Available Resources: Aging in Place Organizations - An increasing number of people want to stay in their home as they age, and Aging in Place Organizations are valuable in providing the resources to help.

End of Life
It can be difficult to prepare for the end of your life or a loved one’s life. Resources are available to help people who are planning for the end of a life, and support a loved one through the end of their life or grieving the death of a loved one.