Supporting family caregivers is critical to allow older adults to successfully age in place. Family caregivers provide emotional, functional, financial, and even medical support to their loved one. The care provided by family caregivers in Wisconsin was valued at over $9.2 billion in 2023. However, our capacity to care for others depends on having stable supports in place. Our community is like a building. If we have a strong and stable foundation and framing, our community members can live a life free of distress. Communities that support family caregivers – by offering educational opportunities, support groups, and respite services for all types of caregivers, and encouraging employers to offer accommodations for active caregivers – are nurturing a critical and valuable resource. The most forward-thinking communities will approach this through a prevention lens, helping caregivers access resources early, before they experience burnout. We have the opportunity to help prevent things like elder abuse by building stronger social structures to support caregivers and the people they care for. Communities that support the needs of caregivers can promote the health and well-being of the entire family system (Frameworks Institute, 2017). Family caregiving characteristics of aging-friendly communities include:
- Educational opportunities to learn more about self-care and caring for others. This includes opportunities to learn more about caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, elderly family members, or grandparents who are raising grandchildren.
- Employers that offer accommodations for family caregivers
- Respite care services
- Caregiver support groups
**In order to maximize your communication and productivity with your audience, please reference the best practices created by The Frameworks Institute on the Characteristics main page.
Data to inform the discussion around this characteristic.
- Wisconsin Caregivers by County – Shows % of caregivers in each county (some counties missing)
- Presence and uptake/utilization of support services for family caregivers (potential data source: Area Agency on Aging)
Activities to help contextualize this characteristic.
- Life of a caregiver simulation: This simulation was created to help nursing students understand the experiences of aging families. Among nursing students, this simulation resulted in significantly greater understanding of caregiving challenges and community services.
Success Stories from local communities.
- Caregiver Cafes in Outagamie County
- Waushara County hosts an annual Caregiver’s Retreat (other Wisconsin counties host similar events, as well)
Resources and other ideas for next steps.
- Employed Caregiver Survey (a UWEX survey that helps employers identify and respond to the support needs of their employees with caregiving responsibilities)
- Tips and resources for effective caregiver coalitions from the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc.
- Who Get Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? facilitators toolkit.
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