Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources
3.4
NATIVE ELDER
CAREGIVER
CURRICULUM
NECC: 3.4
CAREGIVERS &
RESOURCES
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources 3.4
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Caregivers & Resources*
2

Families are important !
 Informal
system (FAMILY & FRIENDS) provides the
most long-term care to elderly with limitations in ADLs
& IADLs
 Nationally, over 90 % of older people who need
assistance are helped by a family member or friend !
 Caregivers often give up a job or make a major
change in a job to be able to help an elderly
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Importance of
Care for the Caregiver
3

“Without formal services available, rural elderly must
rely even more heavily on family and friends for
assistance. Policymakers would do well to consider
building on the informal structures already in place in
rural areas by supporting family caregiver assistance
programs and emphasizing the unique rural
challenges for rural family caregivers” *
*cited in Family Caregiver Support of the Rural Elderly
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services – 2006
http:// ruralcommittee.hrsa.gov/NAC06Report.htm
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Importance of
Care for the Caregiver
4

“Informal caregiving is the backbone of
the American long-term care system where
the value of the service provided by
informal caregivers is estimated to be
$257 billion annually, two times the
amount currently spent on homecare and
nursing home care.” *
*cited in Family Caregiver Support of the Rural Elderly
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services – 2006
http:// ruralcommittee.hrsa.gov/NAC06Report.htm
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Care for the Caregiver*
5


Commitment of Caregivers is to
be respected
Challenge to Caregivers is also to
be appreciated !
 Can
take a toll on their own health
over time
 Can become Stressful !!
 Causing
anger, guilt, financial
difficulty, depression
 Even elder-abuse can result
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Family Caregivers for
Native Elderly
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TRADITIONAL VALUES
 Deep commitment among
Native families to care for
their elders
 Deep commitment among
Native Elders to care for
their families
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Family Caregivers for
Native Elderly
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

“Our goal as the next generation is to
pay back our elders for their
contributions to our families, societies,
and communities by doing our best to
increase or maintain their quality of
life by providing them autonomy in
how they wish to live” *
* McDonald, et al. 2008, p.65
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Care for the Caregiver*
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
Risk for Elderly… when
Caregiver “burns out”…
 More likely for the elderly
person to be hospitalized
 More likely for the elderly
person to be placed in
nursing home
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Care for the Caregiver*
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Top 5 Unmet Needs of Caregivers
in the U.S. *
LACK OF:
 resources to provide range of services
 respite options
 public awareness about caregiver issues
 health care providers
 access to services in rural areas
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Care for the Caregiver*
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
Caregivers often have same kinds of
difficulties as their elderly family members
with:
Transportation
Access
to health care services
Housing issues
Financial issues
Family issues
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Care for the Caregiver*
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





What kinds of services are needed for
Family Caregivers?
Information
Assistance
Counseling
Respite
Supplemental Services
(*references in narrative portion of curriculum)
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
What would help the most?
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
Recommendations need to
come from each Tribal
Community to meet
specific needs
 Each
Tribe will have its
specific issues
 However, good examples of
recommendations have been
made by Tribal people…
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Examples of Tribal
Recommendations
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Bring people together
to talk & plan what
YOUR community
needs…
In YOUR part of the
world !
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Recommendations
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


Identify & bring shareholders together!
Tap into their knowledge & expertise
Multiply the ideas! SYNERGY!
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Sharing Ideas is Important
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Caring for Our Elders: Navigating the System 3.3
Community Discussion is Recommended with
Elders & Providers
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Caring for Our Elders: Navigating the System 3.3
Examples: Tribally Identified Needs
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Access to Information Resources
 Improved Access to Health Care Resources
 Respite Care
 IN-HOME Personal Care Services

Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Examples: Tribally Identified Needs
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
Chore Services
 Heavy
cleaning, snow shoveling, yard work
Temporary rehabilitation options
 Health education & exercise options
 Honoring of cultural expectations in caregiving

Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Examples: Tribal Recommendations
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
Common central location to serve as :
nutrition
site for congregate meals
caregiver resource center
social resource information center
“one-stop” referral & advocacy base
place to socialize
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Examples: Tribal Recommendations
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
“Navigator”
 For
each Local community
district
 Designated person to cut
through the “maze” of
access issues
 Serve as advocate
 Serve as referral source
 Serve as “coach”
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Examples: Tribal Recommendations
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


Handicapped accessible vehicles
 With lifts for wheelchairs
 Extra garages, maintenance system for
transportation of elders
Available equipment for safety in the home
 Shower grab bars, toilet risers, etc.
Supply of undergarments for those in need

No funding source for incontinent products
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Examples: Tribal Recommendations
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
Community Elder Outreach Workers
 Home
services, such as installing grabbars, railings, taking care of heavy chores
& cleaning, yard work, snow removal


Identify a Tribal Leader specifically
assigned to advocate for elderly
Diabetes specialist for eldercare
Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Caregiving is Important… for all
generations
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Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
Caregiving is important!
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
Working together to thank our elders… and value
our caregivers!

Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4
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Caring for Our Elders: Caregivers & Resources Session 3.4