These services are provided to help caregivers so you must be an acting primary caregiver as defined below:

1. FAMILY CAREGIVER: This is an adult family member, partner or friend at least 18 years of age who provides unpaid care to an older individual - 60 years of age or older- or for an individual of any age with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.

2. GRANDPARENT OR OTHER RELATIVE CAREGIVER: A grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver means a grandparent or step-grandparent of a child, or a relative of a child by blood, marriage or adoption (not the child's parent) who is 55 years of age or older and (1) lives with the child; (2) is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the caregiver; and (3) has a legal relationship to the child such as legal custody or guardianship, or has been raising the child informally.

This also covers grandparents or relative caregivers over the age of 55 (not a parent) acting as the primary caregiver for a severly disabled person between the ages of 19 and 59.

If a grandparent or relative caregiver adopts the minor child in their care, they become ineligible for these services. Adoption changes the relationship from being a relative caregiver to being the child's legal parent.

An informal caregiver is someone who is not paid for the services that they provide. Most family caregivers are informal caregivers who have assumed the care for a relative or close friend. Unpaid caregivers provide personal care and household services that allows a disabled or older adult to remain living at home.

North Carolina has over 840,000 family caregivers providing 900 million hours of care valued at $8.9 billion annually. Usually they accomplish this with little support, training, or recognition. This individual acts as the primary caregiver for the disabled or older adult and often assists in such areas as safety, activities of daily living, transportation, health care management, supervision, household chores and paying bills.

Each county may differ in the services provided and the funds available when services are requested. The five main service areas include:

Information about available services

Help in accessing the services

Special trainings, support groups and counseling for caregivers

Temporary respite care

Supplemental services (i.e., Legal assistance, Wheelchair ramps and Voucher assistance for grandparents)

Telephone the Family Caregiver Specialist at (910) 272-5080 or (910) 618-5533 or send an e-mail to aco@lrcog.org to inquire about services.

While we recognize that your needs are important, we prioritize our services first to those in the following situations:

Caregivers for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia;

Caregivers of Older Adults in greatest need (particularly those with low incomes)

Grandparents/older relatives caring for children with severe disabilities

Caregivers with limited English-speaking skills

Rural and minority caregivers

While caregiving offers families many demands, dealing with the stress usually becomes part of the caregiving experience. The many rewards of caregiving can be physically, emotionally, and psychologically overwhelming at times. Caregivers are often required to balance their loved ones needs with other responsibilities including full-time jobs and child rearing. This constant stress can lead to serious health consequences, such as, depression, low resistance to infections, fatigue and a host of physical illnesses.

The warning signs that stress produces on our bodies can be subtle or can progress slowly as caregiving demands increase over time. Many caregivers get so used to feeling "stressed-out" that they ignore the warning signs that trouble is brewing and grow to accept the signs of stress as normal, unavoidable, or out of their control. Failing to recognize the warning signs of stress or failing to do anything about them, can lead to lasting health problems and even death for the caregiver. Studies show that chronic stress increases the risk of caregivers for arthritis, ulcers, cancer, anemia, heart trouble and diabetes.

10 Warning Signs of Caregiver Stress

Denial - about the disease and its effect on the person diagnosed.

Anger - at the person needing care or others.

Social Withdrawal - from friends and activities that were once important.

Anxiety - about the responsibilities of caregiving, the future, or finances.

Depression - affects your ability to cope and find happiness in life.

Exhaustion - interferes with completing daily tasks and effects control of emotions.

Sleeplessness - caused by daily stresses and worry.

Irritability - causes negative responses, a short-temper, and moodiness.

Poor Concentration - makes it difficult to remember or to perform simple tasks.

Health Problems - increase in pain levels and symptoms.

The following steps can help in dealing with and minimizing stress:

1. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains but low in saturated fats and sugars.
2. Get enough sleep and take 'mini-breaks' during the day.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Get regular health check-ups and keep all doctor's appointments.
5. Stay in touch with family, friends, and co-workers.
6. Join a caregiver support group.
7. Talk to a health care provider about symptoms of anxiety or depression and seek counseling when needed.
8. Ask your health care provider about taking multi-vitamins.
9. Do an activity that is pleasureable and meaningful to you.
10. Use respite and other available community services.
11. Ask for help from other family members, friends, and neighbors.
12. Seek out information and community resources.

Alzheimer's is an age-related incurable disease which progressively attacks the brain, causing short and longterm memory loss. There are currently 5.3 million Americans affected by this disease which strikes someone every 70 seconds. It is estimated that the figures will grow by half a million new cases next year. The cost of healthcare for a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia is three times higher than for a person 65 years or older without the disease. About 70 percent of people with the disease are cared for at home by relatives. Family caregivers provide about 8.5 billion hours of unpaid care to relatives with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.

Dementia is not a disease but the name for a group of symptons caused by disorders that affect the brain. Dementia may cause a person to think irrationally; have problems with memory and language; forget how to care for themselves; have difficulty problem-solving; exhibit an inability to control one's emotions and develop marked personality changes. A doctor may tell you that a person has dementia when symptons become apparent that indicate that changes are taking place in the brain. The loss of memory function is related to the breakdown of connections between nerve cells that carry messages through our brain and into our body.

Alzheimer's is a specific disorder that is diagnosed with a brain scan (CT, MRI or PET) or other tests which indicate that the brain cells are dying and the brain has begun shrinking in size. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. Other types of disorders causing dementia include: (1) Mild Cognitive Impairment (2) Vascular Dementia (3) Frontotemporal Dementia (4) Lewy Body Disease (5) Huntington's Disease (6) ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease (7) Parkinson's Disease and (8) Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease.

One of the best interventions for Alzheimer's is to reduce the risk factors associated with the disease. By addressing chronic health issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, and preventing head injuries may slow or delay cognitive disorders. Lifestyle changes like eating a healthy low-fat diet, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a lean weight, getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night, quitting smoking, maintaining strong family and social networks, and daily stimulation of the mind with games and activities that exercise thinking skills may help prevent cognitive disorders before they start.

Providing care for a grandchild or other relative child can be a rewarding but stressful undertaking. Many grandparents benefit from being with others who face similiar challenges and experiences when parenting again.

Support groups can provide a safe environment to share information, discuss concerns, problem solve, listen sympathetically, and help with forming coping strategies to deal with the emotions and issues that often occur when blending families. A support group can also establish a social network that promotes fellowship and lessens the feelings of isolation. The group can become a place to exchange ideas, build self esteem, and enhance the grandparent's support network. However, the support group is not a substitute for those who need professional counseling to deal with anger or depression issues.

Trainings and caregiver retreats can also help grandparents gain knowledge to keep abreast of the current issues in school and society regarding the health and safety of children. Often these events build confidence and friendships that allow the grandparents or relative caregiver to develop their own support system within their families and church groups. Temporary respite may be available to attend these functions.

Other resources that help grandparents include vouchers for the purchase of school clothes and school supplies which are available in late summer for dependent children between the ages of 5 and 18 years of age. This service may be extended for relative caregivers raising severely disabled children between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age who are enrolled in a special needs education program. Grandparents may only apply for assistance (vouchers) every two years.

You may also contact:

Family Caregiver Alliance - http://www.caregiver.org

National Family Caregivers Association - http://www.nfcacares.org

Strength for Caring - http://www.Strengthforcaring.com

Alzheimer's Disease 24/7 Hotline - http://www.info.alz.org