Supporting Caregivers All Year Long

This month we made a special point to celebrate and recognize caregivers for National Family Caregivers Month!

Caregivers in Wisconsin provide so much in care for their loved ones, year-round!

Did you know that Wisconsin has approximately 578,000 family caregivers who spend approximately 490 MILLION hours caregiving annually? This translates to about $7 BILLION dollars in uncompensated care every year.

Many people serve as caregivers and may not even recognize themselves as such. Common support roles that caregivers provide include:

• transportation to appointments, therapies, or daily activities;
• managing or paying finances and expenses; and
• daily care support like medication management, meal preparation, and household chores.

 
AARP Wisconsin, in collaboration with 211 / United Way of Wisconsin, is focused on navigating the care of caregivers as they serve in this role.

View a Facebook live hosted this summer with 211 WI Specialists who lead phone call connections with caregivers below.

In this outreach you can receive 1:1 phone calls with a dedicated and trained 211 Caregiving Specialist that provides:

• Supportive Listening
• Referrals to resources based on your request and needs
• Follow up calls regarding referrals to discuss any issues or additional needs
• Calls arranged to meet your schedule

If this feels like a fit for you, or if you would simply like to learn more, call 2-1-1 or 833-572-1599
to get connected to a 211 Specialist.

Whomever you might be in this moment, this comes with deep appreciation for the ways in which care is both given and received.

If you're looking for more resources - check the AARP Wisconsin Caregiver Resource Guide.

With warm regards,

Deanna Schuette, United Way of Wisconsin
Sam Wilson, AARP Wisconsin