This guide, provided by the Department of Defense, is aimed at informing adult caregivers about resources and options for responding to the needs of older relatives. It is not an exhaustive resource text, and we urge you to seek additional information and help from agencies or professionals in your military or civilian community if needed. In particular, this guide does not provide legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice. For such assistance, you are urged to contact a qualified professional.
The Department of Defense is sensitive to the possibility of one or both parents becoming dependent on you and hopes to identify resources that may assist in providing for their needs. Each caregiver has unique strengths, unique resources, and particular needs. We hope this manual will help you sort through some of the available DoD and community resources.
The quality of life of DoD military and civilian employees is of significant importance to our high quality force. Reducing conflict with family responsibilities and providing a desirable community lifestyle responding to the unique needs of Service members, civilians, and your families are of utmost significance.
Chapter 1 -- Rules for the Caregiver
-- Ideas
to help the caregiver understand his/her role.
Chapter 2 -- Understanding the Aging Process
--The physical, emotional, and social challenges facing older persons.
Chapter 3 -- Common Chronic Conditions
--
Certain conditions that can affect older people.
Chapter 4 -- Tips on Communications
-- How
to understand the feelings and needs of the older person, and how to bring
together family and friends.
Chapter 5 -- The Long-Distance Caregiver
--
Many adult children live many miles away from their older relatives. Keeping
in touch and ensuring good care, when necessary, are challenges adult children
face.
Chapter 6 -- Paying for Care
-- How to pay
for care is often the greatest worry of both the older person and the adult
child; the Guide offers suggestions here also.
Chapter 7 -- Financial and Legal Issues
--
These can be difficult issues and can complicate care. A review of financial
resources and legal documents is an essential element in the family care
arrangement.
Chapter 8 -- Community Resources
-- A Directory
of Resources in the community and ways to access them.
Chapter 9 -- Housing Options
-- Care at home,
care in the community, care in a nursing home, and long-distance care make
quite different demands. We offer guidance for each situation.
Chapter 10 -- The DoD Community
-- The DoD
community offers support to its members through family centers, the chaplains
corps, personnel offices, among other resources.
Appendix 1 -- National Organizations
-- There
are many organizations such as AARP, the National Council on the Aging,
and The Alzheimer's and Related Diseases Association, which can assist
the caregiver. The Guide describes a number of these organizations.
Appendix 2 -- Publications
-- A brief list
of books and pamphlets is suggested for additional reading.
Appendix 3 -- National Guard State Family Program
Coordinators
-- A list of names, phone numbers and addresses by state.
Special thanks to those in the Department of Defense who worked on
this manual.
Special recognition goes to
Ms. Michelle McIntyre and to Dr.
Michael Creedon
who dedicated considerable time and effort to the successful
completion of this document.
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