Caregiving may be one of the most important, and challenging, roles you’ll ever take on. No matter where you are in your caregiving journey — starting to plan; taking care of a family member in your home, in a facility, or from a distance; or managing end-of-life caregiving responsibilities — having resources at your fingertips will make the process easier.
AARP developed this family caregiver guide with you, the caregiver, in mind and as a starting point to help you find the services and support you might need throughout your journey.
To order a print copy of this online guide, call the toll-free AARP Family Caregiving Resource Line at 877-333-5885 and indicate which state(s) you would like to receive. A copy will be mailed to you.
General Resources
- Supporting Family Caregivers in Your State
- AARP has a website dedicated to providing you with information about how we’re advocating for caregivers in your state.
- Community Living Connections (CLC) (855-567-0252)
- Washington’s CLC network helps individuals, their caregivers, legal representatives and families navigate and connect with information and access to long-term and home- or community-based services and supports.
- Washington 211 (2-1-1 | 877-211-9274 toll-free)
- 2-1-1 is a free community service in Washington State that connects residents with highly trained information and referral specialists to assess needs and provide a list of referrals to available resources in your community.
Health Resources
- Dementia Action Collaborative (360-725-2300)
- Resources for families and people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
- Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (800-562-6028)
- The state ombudsman advocates for residents of nursing homes, adult family homes and assisted living facilities to protect their rights under federal and state laws and regulations.
- The state ombudsman advocates for residents of nursing homes, adult family homes and assisted living facilities to protect their rights under federal and state laws and regulations.
Home- and Community-Based Resources
- Washington State Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (360-725-2300)
- This department lists resources for finding services for adults on a range of issues, including meals, transportation, daily personal care, housework and yard work.
- Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116)
- Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging that connects you to services for older adults and their families.
- Washington State Continuing Care Residents Association (701-801-3233)
- WACCRA works on federal and state issues affecting Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) residents and other seniors. They have a host of resources for seniors including a comprehensive Consumer Guide for Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
Financial Resources
- AARP Foundation’s Benefits QuickLINK
- Find public benefits that can help you pay for food, medicine, health care, utilities and more by using AARP Foundation’s Benefits QuickLINK tools.
- Find public benefits that can help you pay for food, medicine, health care, utilities and more by using AARP Foundation’s Benefits QuickLINK tools.
- Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (877-746-4334 toll-free)
- The Department of Financial Institutions maintains a list of county resources and agencies for low-income housing, financial assistance and counseling.
Legal Resources
- Northwest Justice Project (2-1-1 King County | 888-201-1014 toll-free)
- NJP provides legal help to low-income people in cases affecting such basic human needs as safety and security, housing preservation, income protection, access to health care, education and other basic needs.
Workplace/Employer Resources
- Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace
- AARP offers valuable resources to help employers create a caregiver-friendly workplace.
- WorkSource Washington (888-316-5627 toll-free)
- WorkSource is a statewide partnership of state, local and non-profi t agencies that provides employment and training services to job seekers and employers in Washington. Customers access services electronically through worksourcewa.com or through a network of more than 60 WorkSource centers, affiliates and connection sites.
- WA Cares Career
- WA Care Careers is a guide that provides you with professional development opportunities, that offer flexible schedules and positions within the fastest growing industry in the nation, assisting older adults and adults with disabilities with daily activities so they can remain in their own homes and communities.
- WA Care Careers is a guide that provides you with professional development opportunities, that offer flexible schedules and positions within the fastest growing industry in the nation, assisting older adults and adults with disabilities with daily activities so they can remain in their own homes and communities.
Transportation Resources
- Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program (360-878-4695)
- Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program connects rural communities to major transportation hubs and urban centers, filling gaps in the transportation network and making travel more accessible, reliable and convenient.
Housing Resources
- Washington Homeownership Resource Center (WHRC) (877-894-4663 toll-free)
- WHRC is a nonprofit organization that offers a website, hotline and portal where Washington residents can find resources for first-time homebuyers, current homeowners and homeowners who may be facing foreclosure.
- Solid Ground Housing Resources (206-694-6700 | 866-297-4300 toll-free)
- Solid Ground is an anti-poverty social service organization. It works to connect individuals with information, resources and referrals to meet basic needs and support housing stability.
Specific Audience Resources
- AARP Caregiving Guides
- AARP offers free caregiving guides for specific audiences, including guides for military families and LGBT individuals. The guides, also offered in Spanish and Chinese, are designed to help develop and implement a caregiving plan.
- AARP offers free caregiving guides for specific audiences, including guides for military families and LGBT individuals. The guides, also offered in Spanish and Chinese, are designed to help develop and implement a caregiving plan.
- SAGE Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders (877-360-LGBT | 877-360-5428 tollfree)
- SAGE is a national advocacy organization that provides advocacy, services and support to older members of the LGBT community.
- Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (800-562-2308)
- The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs helps connect veterans and their family members to the benefits and services they earned through their military service.
Care for Caregivers
- Community Connections
- AARP Community Connections is a new website that offers steps to get or give help. You can organize online mutual aid groups to stay connected, share ideas and support those in need.
- Create the Good
- Create the Good connects people with volunteer opportunities and project ideas to share your life experiences, skills and passions in your community.
AARP Resources for Family Caregivers
- AARP Family Caregiving Website (en español: aarp.org/cuidar)
- AARP’s Family Caregiving website is your one-stop shop for tips and tools to help you care for a loved one. It has valuable information about handling medical issues, health records and advance directives, home safety, financial and legal issues, caregiver life balance and much more.
- AARP Family Caregiving Resource Line (877-333-5885 toll-free, en español: 888-971-2013 toll-free)
- Connect with a real person and learn how to access local resources via our toll-free family caregiving hotline.
- AARP Family Caregivers Facebook Group
- Join the AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook to connect, ask questions and share ideas with other family caregivers.
- Community Resource Finder
- Community Resource Finder, a joint service from the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP, is a database of dementia- and aging-related resources powered by Carelike. The online tool makes it easy to find local programs and services.
- I Heart Caregivers
- Join the thousands of family caregivers who have shared their experiences through AARP’s storytelling initiative, I Heart Caregivers. Your story will help AARP continue to fight for more support for family caregivers.
- AARP Online Caregiving Community
- Join our community and connect with other caregivers like you.
- AARP HomeFit Guide
- The AARP HomeFit Guide can help individuals and families make their current or future residence age-friendly. It can also help elected officials, policymakers and local leaders learn about and advocate for the types of housing features and designs that communities need so that their residents can live safely and comfortably and thrive.
- National Resources for Family Caregivers
- A listing of national agencies, groups and organizations that can connect family caregivers with direct services and supports.
If you have thoughts about how AARP can improve this resource guide, we invite you to go to aarp.org/preparetocaresurvey (en español: aarp.org/encuestacuidador).