Caregiver Support & Resources
Call today to begin services!
CentraCare Health Home Care - 320-259-9375
CentraCare Health - Sauk Centre - 320-352-2221
Home Care and Hospice's primary role in providing high-quality patient care is educating and supporting the patient's caregivers. Caregivers are crucial in assuring follow through on communication, compliance and collaboration in all aspects of the patient's care.
Our staff can also offer guidance on other local services that might assist your loved one's care at home.
Call us if you have a loved one who may need and benefit from services. Most services are covered under Medicare or private insurance. The first home visit is free to assess your loved one's needs.
Who are caregivers?
Family, friends, partners and neighbors may all be caregivers. Most do not identify themselves as a caregiver, but identify with the primary role they have with patient.
Tips for Caregivers
- Be an advocate for your loved one.
- Oversee their care as a care coordinator.
- Write down observations of situations.
- Hold a family conference/ create a family care team.
- Tell others what you need.
- Keep good records (physician appointments, medications, medical history of patient, and financial).
- Establish a daily regime or schedule.
- Use a communication notebook for family or staff involved in patient care.
- Get to know any staff involved in the patient’s care.
- Search "caregiver" on the web for a wealth of information.
Caregiver Stress and Burnout
- Tune into your own feelings.
- Understand symptoms of stress and burnout (withdrawal, general irritability, feeling blue or hopeless, changes in appetite or sleep, emotional or physical exhaustion).
- Know when to seek help from professionals.
Caregiver Burnout Prevention
- Talk about your feelings.
- Create realistic goals.
- Be realistic about your loved one’s disease.
- Realize some things are uncontrollable.
- Take advantage of respite from family or area services.
Discover the Gifts of Caregiving
In the busyness of the day, try to find the small joys and inspirations of caregiving.
- Celebrate even the small successes.
- Laugh — remember to include humor to lighten everyone’s stress.
- Take time to just sit and visit with your loved one, to not always be “doing”.
- Help your loved one discover their legacy.
- Talk about the stresses and joys in both your roles as caregiver and care receiver.
Helpful Web Resources
Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging
Includes planning and service areas, and information about caregiver support services such as caregiver consultants.
Live Well at Home
This resource tool for older adults and the people who help them takes a risk management approach to supporting older adults in their own homes. The site includes the Rapid Screen, a long-term care cost calculator, and a helpful Family and Friends page.
Caregiver Link
This online public information and referral portal provides resources for caregivers of older adults and professionals within MinnesotaHelpinfo. Consumers and professionals may search for a particular service(s) in their community.
Senior Linkage Line
Minnesota's toll-free information and assistance service for older adults and families can be reached at 1-800-333-2433. The Eldercare Locator also is available for family caregivers of older adults living outside Minnesota at 1-800-677-1116.
Minnesota Board on Aging
The Family Caregiver page contains resource brochures such as balancing work and caregiving and tips for conducting a family meeting.
What is a Caregiver? Caregiver Awareness Campaign
This caregiver awareness campaign is provided by the Amherst Wilder Foundation.
