NACOLG--Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments

Alabama Cares

ALABAMA CARES is a program designed to support family caregivers by providing training, assistance and resources to help them take care of their aging loved ones and themselves.

Families, not social service agencies, nursing homes or government programs, are the foundation of long-term care (LTC) for older persons in the United States. According to the most recent National Long Term Care Survey, more than seven million persons are informal caregivers – providing unpaid help to older persons who live in the community and have at least one limitation on their activities of daily living. These caregivers include spouses, adult children, and other relatives and friends.

Caregivers play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence. However, even though caregiving is rewarding, it can have a negative impact on the health and well being of the caregiver. Caregiving has its greatest impact on the emotional health of caregivers, particularly the caregivers of persons with dementia and stroke who are at the highest risk for depression and anxiety disorders.

ALABAMA CARES will keep families together and will allow seniors to age at home instead of in costly long term care facilities.

ALABAMA CARES MENU OF SERVICES:

INFORMATION about services provided in group settings to educate caregivers. Information services include public education sessions and provision of information at health fairs and outreach.

ASSISTANCE provided to caregivers on an individual basis to help them gain access to services. Assistance services include outreach and client-directed counseling sessions, in which the Alabama Cares Coordinator assesses the client’s needs, informs him/her about available services and/or resources, and helps the client obtain services.

COUNSELING provided to advise, guide and instruct the caregiver about options and methods of care. Service may be in the form of individual counseling, support group counseling or caregiver training.

RESPITE is temporary, substitute support of the care-recipient, which provides a brief period of relief or rest to the caregiver. Respite services may be provided in the home, in an institution, or in an adult day center. Respite services may be skilled or unskilled depending on the needs of the care-recipient.

SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES* are provided on a limited basis to complement the care given by caregivers. These services are intended to meet caregiver needs that are not covered by other areas of the program. Examples are listed below.

Incontinence & Other Supplies
Home Safety Audits
Minor Home Modifications
Assistive Technology
Emergency Alarm Response Systems
Other
Nutritional Supplements
Homemaker Services
Personal Care Services
Chore Services
Home Delivered Meals (temporary)
Special Needs Transport

*SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES VARY BY REGION.

Department Contact:
Kathy Spears - 256-389-0554