Being a family caregiver is a stressful job. In this article, you can find the top caregiver resources available to you in Orange County. These resources can help make it easier to care for your elderly loved one and hopefully relieve some stress. Whether you need affordable care services or a support group, you can find it here.
Caregiver Resource Center Orange County
The Caregiver Resource Center Orange County is a nonprofit organization that provides education and resources to caregivers. They provide caregiver support groups, which offer valuable peer connections for family members caring for an elderly loved one in their own home.
They have assisted thousands of families since 1988 with care for the elderly, including those with debilitating conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), Huntington’s disease, and more. They offer general support groups and specific support groups for those who speak a different language or have specialized needs.
Family Caregiver Support Program
The Family Caregiver Support Program is a nonprofit agency that provides services to Orange County residents who need support for themselves or their loved ones.
They offer home care, respite care, and help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, and medication reminders. The Caregiver Support Program is committed to assisting caregivers by providing information about available resources locally and nationally. They also offer caregiver training workshops on topics like dementia awareness and Alzheimer’s disease education.
The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) has been offering emotional support for family caregivers since 2000 through its nationwide network of local affiliates. NFCA offers educational programs at no cost, including talks from experts who specialize in medical conditions which affect elderly adults, like Parkinson’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Orange County
ALZOC provides free programs and services for Alzheimer’s caregivers to promote independence and access to resources.
Their programs include:
- Monthly newsletters with information about local events.
- Tips on how to manage dementia at home.
- A caregiver support group.
- In-person educational presentations.
They also have an online resource library that includes downloadable booklets written by experts in the field of Alzheimer’s caregiving, as well as videos showing people living with various stages of cognitive impairment and their families navigating day-to-day life.
The organization offers free one-on-one counseling sessions where you can talk anonymously about your situation over the phone or video chat from anywhere in Orange County!
Their Savvy Caregiver 3-Week Training helps better equip family caregivers of loved ones in moderate stages of dementia with the knowledge to make their job a bit easier and more beneficial for the senior. In this program, you can learn to be an effective caregiver with evidence-based information on the basics of dementia care. The program consists of 6 hours of training over three weeks via a Zoom call.
Alzheimer’s Family Center
Alzheimer’s Family Center offers adult day care services for seniors with memory care needs. Your loved one will receive respite care, which gives you a short, guilt-free break from the stress of caregiving. This ensures your loved one continues to get the medical and social support they need while you go on vacation, spend time with friends, or just take a much-needed break.
They have built a unique, world-class facility that offers high-level daycare programs. Thousands of dementia patients enjoy happier, healthier lives when they stay.
In addition to their respite care services, they also offer programs for family caregivers. You can share experiences, receive encouragement, and solve problems with their Dementia Caregiver Support Groups. This is a proven way to build the knowledge and skills needed through peers and professionals alike to provide better, less stressful care for your loved one.
Alzheimer’s Association Orange County
Alzheimer’s Association understands the daily struggles of family caregiving. They have created a caregiver center that provides you with the information you need to effectively care for your loved one through every stage of Alzheimer’s and dementia. They also offer activities, support groups, message boards, and advice on how you can stay healthy as a caregiver.
Their website offers a ton of information and local and nationwide services that will help you in your caregiving struggles.
Easterseals Southern California
Easterseals offers various programs and resources that focus on helping those with disabilities, their families, caregivers, teachers, employers, and others. They provide educational opportunities for family members who want to learn more about what it takes to care for someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
They also have an online library where you can find information and read the stories other people have written about their experiences caring for loved ones with these diseases.
This nationwide program supports more than 1.4 million people each year. Their Southern California branch (ESSC) makes positive differences in people’s everyday lives by offering autism care, adult day care, and caregiver support programs.
They also serve transitioning veterans and their families to ensure a successful transition into civilian life.
Council on Aging Southern California
The Council on Aging of Southern California (COA) is an organization that provides services for seniors 55+ in Orange County and San Diego counties. They offer a wide range of programs including: housing assistance, caregiver support, senior transportation, and legal protection.
COA has been serving Orange County since 1978! They operate out of 93 different locations in Southern California and are available every day to help you with your caregiving support struggles.
Dayle McIntosh Center
The Dayle McIntosh Center is a resource for healthy aging, advocacy, and resources. They offer many services to Orange County residents, including caregiver support programs like Caregivers Coping Together (CCT), Caregivers Online Support Group, Early Steps Program, Geriatric Mental Health Services Training Series, Life Skills Development Program – Long Term Care Transitions Classroom Course, and more!
They also provide Alzheimer’s care education and training as well as memory screenings with dementia specialists. They are a nonprofit organization founded in 1977 that partners with people with disabilities to help them meet personal goals.
DMC is a peer-based organization, meaning most of the staff are individuals with disabilities themselves and have met the challenges of becoming self-sufficient. This firsthand experience ensures your loved one will receive the support and resources needed to help them reach their goal of becoming more independent.
Age Well Senior Services
Age Well was founded in 1975 and had been assisting seniors in Orange County since. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
They provide various services and resources for individuals needing caregiving support in their homes, such as: nutrition programs, transportation programs, adult daycare classes, and case management programs.
They strive to ensure that no senior goes hungry by providing programs like Meals on Wheels and Senior Center Lunch. Each year they deliver over 300,000 meals through just their Meals on Wheels program to seniors in need.
