Caregiver Navigators can help individuals and their families navigate the difficult decisions and uncertainties that they face. In addition to care consultations, caregivers can learn about support groups, training opportunities, respite (homecare/daycare) assistive devices and/or safety services.
The department works with multiple funding sources and will work with the caregiver to help establish their options.
A Caregiver Resource Center is located in the Olean office and has a selection of caregiver videos and books. Additionally, caregiver e-books can be accessed at no cost through the Chautauqua/Cattaraugus Library system.
*New Resource for Caregivers*
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) have partnered with Trualta to offer Trualta's web-based caregiver education and support platform at no cost to any unpaid cargiver in New York State.
There are an estimated 4.1 million caregivers in New York State who provide 2.68 billion hours of unpaid care. Sixty-one percent worry about caring for a loved one and 70 percent reported at least one mental health symptom during the pandemic. Trualta teaches criticial skills to reduce caregiver stress levels and increases confidence in one's caregiving abilities.
Caregivers can access these services at the Caregiver Portal. Here are instructions on how to create your account.
For more information or help creating your account, please contact our office (716) 373-8032.
Contact the Department of Aging
Call 716-373-8032
Look for our Facebook page Cattaraugus County Department of Aging and NY Connects.
Questions for Caregivers
Do you provide unpaid care to a family member, friend, or neighbor who has an illness, disability, memory loss, injury, or special need? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are a caregiver! Are you feeling overwhelmed, constantly worried, tired, sad, easily irritated, and/or extremely stressed? You are not alone and there is support available. If you would like to learn more about resources, tools, and supports available for caregivers, please answer the following questions to get connected to the right starting place.
Four Quick Questions
- Are you over the age of 18 and caring for an older adult (age 60+)?
- Are you over the age of 18 caring for an individual (any age) with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder (e.g., dementia, traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, chronic traumatic encephalopathy)?
- Are you over the age of 55 and living with and caring for a child (not biological) under the age of 18?
- Are you over the age of 55 and living with and caring for an adult (can be a biological child) aged 18-59 with a disability?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are eligible for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). If you would like to learn more about how this program can assist you, please take this short screen for an initial assessment of your wellbeing, and a Program Specialist will reach out to discuss the results. The evidence-based screener asks you to reflect on your experiences and respond to a series of statements based on identified rating scales in each section. This screener is used to help you and the Program Specialist better understand your situation and define an individualized plan to meet your unique caregiving needs.
If you answered no to all the questions above, or you are not interested in taking the evidence-based screen, there is still help available to you through the Any Care Counts - New York (ACC-NY) Campaign which recognizes and supports the millions of unpaid caregivers across the state! Through ACC-NY you can discover your caregiver intensity score by taking the ARCHANGELS Caregiver Intensity Index (CII). It takes just 2 minutes to complete. You will find out whether you are “in the red," "yellow" or "green," and be connected to trusted resources.
Do you prefer to search resources on your own? Visit the NY Connects Resource Directory. NY Connects links individuals of all ages and their caregivers to long term services and supports and provides one stop access to free, objective, comprehensive information and assistance.
Collaborators
Alzheimer's Association and Healthy Community Alliance
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, Western New York Chapter (AAWNY) is a grantee of New York State Department of Health's Regional Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative that was released in 2015. The AAWNY became the lead contractor in the Western New York region from January 1, 2018 through Under this initiative, the AAWNY works collaboratively with seven subcontracting Area Agencies on Aging/Offices for the Aging to enable individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (AD/D) to remain in non-institutional settings in their community as long as safely possible through the implementation of caregiver support programs designed to improve quality-of-life and decrease caregiver burden. The following support services are available to caregivers of individuals living with AD/D free of charge, regardless of income status:
1) Care Consultations: Care consultations are provided by trained professionals who can help caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia navigate the difficult decisions and uncertainties faced throughout the course of the disease. Care consultations are tailored to each family’s unique situation and incorporate personalized assessment, service plan development and strategies to address common concerns. The Alzheimer’s Association and the Office for the Aging will work with you to schedule a care consultation that is best for your situation: over the phone, in-person at one of our offices, or at a location in your community.
2) Caregiver Support Groups: Support groups are designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for caregivers through regularly scheduled meetings. These groups offer a safe and confidential platform to help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. Support groups encourage caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health, as well as provide the best care for individuals living with dementia. Groups meet monthly in all counties of Western New York.
3) Caregiver Education: Education programs provide the necessary knowledge and information to empower caregivers of those with dementia. Our programs provide caregivers with the tools, resources and support they need to enhance overall well-being and effectively care for their loved ones. Education programs are available on a regular basis in all counties of Western New York.
4) Temporary Respite: Respite provides temporary relief to those who care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Time away from caregiving responsibilities is essential to overall well-being and allows caregivers to refresh and recharge, reduce stress and can help ensure that those with Alzheimer’s remain at home as long as possible. Caregivers may choose the type of temporary respite care that is best for their situation. Options include in-home services, social adult day programs, medical adult day programs, consumer-directed personal assistance program, community social respite, or overnight stays in a residential facility. Contact the Office for the Aging to learn more about respite availability as options may vary.
5) Safety Services: Taking measures to improve safety can help families feel confident in their ability to provide care in their home, prevent injuries, and prepare for incidents of wandering. The Alzheimer’s Association and the Office for the Aging will work with you to enroll in safety services such as Medic Alert + Wandering Support, Personal Emergency Response Systems, and more.
Learn More
To learn more about the Regional Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Support Initiative in Western New York contact the Alzheimer's Association, NY Connects or your local county Area Agency on Aging/Office for the Aging.
- Reach the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 at 1.800.272.3900.
- Allegany County - 585.268.9390
- Cattaraugus Department of the Aging 716.373.8032
- Chautauqua County - 716.753.4582 Erie County - 716.858.8526
- Genesee County - 585.343.1611 Niagara County - 716.438.3030
- Wyoming County - 585.786.8833 New York Connects at 1.800.342.9871
Healthy Community Alliance
The E-Respite Coaching Workshop will focus on what caregivers can implement or modify within their homes using technology to be able to have relief from a task/tasks while maintaining care for their loved one and supporting self-care for themselves. The E-Respite Coaching Workshop consists of 8, 30-minute-1-hour sessions wherein the caregiver and coach go through several assessments to assess how technology can increase respite and linking the caregiver with that technology solution and support. Additionally, caregivers can learn more how technology can help them by visiting the website: CareGiverTechSolutions.org.
Healthy Community Alliance has a Caregiver Tech Solutions program to enrich the Caregiver Journey.
Are you, a spouse, daughter, son, grandchild, or friend feeling stressed by the additional responsibilities you’ve taken on to help a loved one?
Do you have concerns with leaving your loved one home alone while you run errands?
Caregiver Tech Solutions offers the E-Respite Coaching Workshop to provide an opportunity to learn how technology can be used and implemented in their home to increase respite or self-care opportunities. The E-Respite Coaching Workshop includes:
- one-on-one virtual or telephonic workshop sessions with a coach
- sessions incorporate the needs, goals, and life experiences of the caregiver
- caregivers complete several unique assessments to find technology solutions
- caregivers receive technology solutions at no cost to them
- additional Technology Help Desk support available to workshop participants
*For caregivers (18+ years of age) and their loved ones (55+) who live in Cattaraugus or Wyoming county.
For more information, call the Caregiver Tech Solutions Program today at 716-532-1010!
For all the latest news, and to learn more about the solutions we have to offer, visit www.CareGiverTechSolutions.org
