CareCommunity Offers Convenient Support for Caregivers

Gail Hudson, CareCommunity Web Site Manager

When you become a caregiver for someone with a serious illness, you take on a whole new batch of duties and responsibilities. Besides your own work and personal obligations, you’ve got doctors to talk to, insurance forms to fill out, and financial arrangements to make. You may have to learn how to be a home nurse, and take over daily tasks for your loved one, such as cooking, shopping, and driving. And you’re supposed to manage all this while dealing with the prospect of losing someone you love.

Given all the demands on today’s caregivers, is it any wonder that 60 percent of caregivers show signs of clinical depression and many become ill themselves?

Not surprisingly, caregivers could use some help. But it’s not always easy to figure out where or how to get the support you need. Fortunately, a new and free website called CareCommunity is specifically designed to support caregivers who are caring for a loved one with a life limiting illness.
 
CareCommunity was funded through a National Institute for Health grant with the goal of reducing caregiver stress by providing expert advice, personal support, and practical tools for caregiving. The website is also sponsored by Enclara Health LLC, a comprehensive health care resource organization focused exclusively on providing clarity and insightful direction for everyone involved with end-of-life care.

CareCommunity partners researched all the ways that caregivers find stress relief and packaged it into an easy-to-use website. The result is a one-stop shopping site for caregivers, a place where they can get many of their needs met in a convenient online experience.

For example, research shows that caregivers feel less stress when they learn specific skills that help them be better caregivers, such as how to set up a home for caregiving or help a loved one get better pain relief, so the website offers a variety of articles offering skill-building advice. Research also shows that caregivers benefit from the support of other caregivers, so CareCommunity provides plenty of ways you can interact with others, such as sharing and reading personal stories and lessons learned, as well as discussion boards where you can post questions to experts or other caregivers.

Many caregivers don’t have the time or resources to attend a support group in their community. With CareCommunity, caregivers can find immediate, convenient support and companionship any time of day or night.

Caregivers also benefit from the involvement of friends and family members. One of the most unique and innovative features of CareCommunity is the ability for registered users to create their own “Private Care Page.” This personal web page allows you to coordinate and share the care of a loved one with friends and family members. Only invited members can view this page, where caregivers can post messages, important updates, and journal entries. There’s also a “Scheduler” which allows friends and family members to sign up for caregiving tasks and errands, such as driving Dad to a doctor’s appointment, walking the family dog, or picking up groceries.

Currently, CareCommunity is seeking pioneers to help build its groundbreaking national web site. Registering on the site is fast, free and completely confidential. Even if you have the support and resources you need, we invite you to join the website and share some of your wisdom and caregiving tips. Consider your involvement as a way to give back to those who supported you on your journey.

Other Online Resources for Caregivers

Caregiver Connections – Senior Services’ caregiver portal includes access to community resources, a calendar for local classes and workshops, an interactive message board, and online journals for caregivers. Caregiving Help – Caregiving assistance, resources, and education. The site includes online video demonstrations of specific caregiver skills and related issues, as well as an online message board. Sponsored by the Council of Jewish Elderly in Chicago, Caregiving Help includes information that is useful for caregivers regardless of where they live.