Call to Organizations that Support Caregivers: Send your November 2013 activities

Contact: C. Brylski (504) 897-6110

CALL TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT CAREGIVERS:

Send us your activities in November, 2013

November is Caregivers Awareness Month and Coalition Seeks to Publicize Efforts to Help the Family Caregiver

There are nearly one million adults who are the primary means of care and support for children, adults with disabilities or older adults in Louisiana, and who provide more than 600 million hours of care in a year!

November is National Caregivers Awareness Month and the Louisiana Lifespan Respite Coalition wants to help educate caregivers about the services and supports available to them throughout Louisiana by inviting churches, non-profits, patient organizations and anyone aiding the caregiver to post their information at LouisianaAnswers.com before the end of October.

 “The services a family caregiver provides are invaluable,” said Lifespan Respite Coalition founder, Kelly Viator with the ALS Association. “In fact, the value of what these people contribute is estimated at more than $5.7 billion annually. But sadly, they can’t do it alone and very few will ask for help.”

More than one-third of all adults provide family care-giving to a loved one, even though they are not likely to talk about it, said Ms. Viator. Lending a hand to the caregiver is the goal of the Louisiana Lifespan Respite Coalition, and Ms. Viator said organizations are needed in the conversation about how to find resources for those who assist elders, or adults and children with disabilities or special needs.

 To better coordinate resources, seminars and services, the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs is supporting the Lifespan Respite Coalition’s efforts by providing free web-listings at www.LouisianaAnswers.com. To list your organization’s services, seminars and other supports for caregivers, whether serving the elderly, children or adults with special needs, go to www.LouisianaAnswers.com and “log in as a Provider” in the left-hand, bottom corner of the webpage.  LouisianaAnswers.com is a program of GOEA.

For direct help with listings, email request@LouisianaAnswers.com. There is also a contact form at the website. For general information, contact Tammy LeBlanc, 225.219.0223.

The national Lifespan Respite Care Program provides grants to state agencies to maximize existing resources and ensure that respite is available and accessible to families. Louisiana received a three-year grant of $200,000 in 2010 to coordinate respite resources in the state. The Aging and Disability Resource Centers of LouisianaAnswers.com, programs of the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, serve as the central source for respite information.  For information, contact Tammy LeBlanc (225) 219.0223.