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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2008
Media Contact:
Bonnie Lawrence
(415) 434-3388, Ext. 312
blawrence at caregiver dot org
Family Caregiver Alliance Launches First-of-Its-Kind
Family Care Navigatorsm
Comprehensive Online State-by-State Guide for
Family Caregivers
SAN FRANCISCO--The National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance has launched the Family Care Navigator, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive online guide intended to help families in all 50 states locate government, nonprofit, and private caregiver support programs.
The easy-to-use Navigator lists programs for family caregivers as well as resources for older or disabled adults living at home or in a residential facility.
It also includes information on government health and disability programs, legal resources, living arrangements, disease-specific organizations, FAQs, a glossary and more. There is no charge to use the Navigator.
According to Family Caregiver Alliance Executive Director Kathleen Kelly, "For people providing care to an older or disabled family member or friend, navigating the long-term care system can be difficult and confusing. Programs vary from state to state and community to community; caregivers can spend hours on the phone trying to locate appropriate services.
"Until now there has not been one central site for families to find help in their communities. We get thousands of calls each year from family caregivers who simply don't know where to turn to find the specialized support they need as they take on the challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer's, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease and other serious disorders requiring long-term care. Based on input from those families, we designed this new web-based feature to guide them to services and programs designed to help. There's nothing else like it online."
The Navigator is the newest feature on Family Caregiver Alliance's award-winning website at www.caregiver.org. The site offers a wealth of caregiving advice, newsletters, fact sheets, research reports, policy updates and discussion groups, all at no charge. The Family Care Navigator is funded in part by a grant from the Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation.
About Family Caregiver Alliance
Founded in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain the important work of families and friends caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions. Call (800) 445-8106 for more information.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: May 11-17 is National Women's Health Week. Nearly 75 percent of caregivers are women. See FCA's Fact Sheet for information on the impact of caregiving on health.
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