Joan, 45 years old, married and working full time, is a typical caregiver. She has two children under age 18 and she has been looking after her father for the last five years. 

  More than 22 million households have a caregiver, and approximately one-quarter of the caregivers are in their 50s and 60s.* Many caregivers--40%--are caught in the "sandwich" generation; they have children under 18 to care for, along with a parent or grandparent. Often, the one who needs care may be many miles away from the caregiver. What's the caregiver to do? Fortunately, help is available.

The Value of Networking

  To determine how much care your loved one needs, or to find help, begin with his or her informal support system. "The first step," suggests Licensed Social Worker Alison Sahly, "is to develop a safety net, or informal group of local support people who can check on the person you're concerned about. This might include friends, family members, neighbors or church members."

  Next, check out community assistance programs. "You may wish to arrange for aid from a home-health agency, such as a weekly nursing visit or housekeeping service," Sahly says. "The Department of Social Services can also provide social workers who furnish in-home services or assessments to make sure your loved one is safe at home."

  If your loved one is hospitalized, Sahly suggests looking to case managers and social workers within the hospital to assist with discharge planning. This helps ensure that, when your loved one leaves the hospital, he or she is discharged to an appropriate care setting and receives quality care. 

  "One of the biggest challenges of being a long-distance caregiver is the inability to be with your loved one," Sahly says, "and to have to rely on other support systems to provide quality care. Those challenges can be managed and minimized, however, by taking advantage of available information and services." 

Knowing Where to Look

  Near or far, the following resources can help you manage your loved one's care:

• Your state's Area Agency on Aging. Phone numbers for the agency can usually be found in the city or county government section of your telephone directory under Aging or Social Services.
• The Eldercare Locator. Call (800) 677-1116 or visit the Web site at www.aoa.gov/elderpage/locator.html to locate home-delivered meals, legal services, respite care and other services. 
• The Administration on Aging. The Web site at www.aoa.dhhs.gov/agingsites/ offers a directory of Web sites related to services for the elderly, including listings of state and local agencies.
• The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. You may wish to hire a private case manager, or geriatric care manager, to keep an eye on your loved one, oversee home services and keep you informed about your family member's condition. Call (520) 881-8008 or visit www.caremanager.org for a list of geriatric care managers in your loved one's area and suggested questions to ask when looking for a manager.

*Source: AARP, www.aarp.org.