Caregiving and Guardianship Resources

Caregiving Resources: Knowing What to Expect and How to Prepare Enhances Caregiving 

There are many groups and organizations that have ongoing resources for caregivers:

Caregiver Toolkit: The Florida State Health Improvement Plan (Florida SHIP) pulled together resources from non-profits, businesses and government agencies that specialize in caregiving, senior care, aging, and end-of-life issues. 

• The Family Caregiver Alliance offers guidance on its webpage Dementia, Caregiving, and Controlling Frustration. They have also created an online training series called “The Caregiver College” which discuss skills such as how to assist with bathing, transferring, and more. You can see these videos in multiple languages, along with other helpful webinars, on the Family Caregiver Alliance YouTube Channel.
• The Alzheimer’s Association's comprehensive guidance defines the different stages of caregiving.
• The AARP's Family Caregiving website can help you navigate your role.
• The Youth Against Alzheimer’s report Millennials and Dementia Caregiving in the United States explores the challenges for young adult caregivers.
• The Department of Elder Affairs’ Caregiving webpage has statewide resources and information and their Caregiving Assistance Services provide support through a variety of programs.
• The Florida State University REACH Program provides resources for care partners and encourages caregivers learn more about community and web-based resources designed to help with unique issues faced by those caring for a friend or family member.
• African American Alzheimer’s Caregiver Training & Support – ACTS 2 Project provides support to African American Alzheimer’s caregivers. Through our FREE caregiving support sessions, you will learn the essential skills needed to support your loved ones. In addition, ACTS 2 will provide FREE telephone-based training and support sessions when you need them.
• Powerful Tools for Caregivers gives you the skills to take care of yourself while caring for someone else. By taking care of your own health and well-being, you become a better caregiver. Six class sessions held once a week are led by experienced class leaders. Class participants are given The Caregiver Helpbook to accompany the class and provide additional caregiver resources.

Other Resources for Caregivers

• Memory Loss Among Caregivers (Running time: 10 minutes 47 seconds)

Caregiving can negatively affect caregivers’ physical and mental health. Unpaid adult caregivers age 45 and older reported greater Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) than non-caregivers. Caregivers with SCD were more than likely than those without SCD to report chronic health conditions, a history of depression, and frequent activity limitations.

• How Are You Feeling Right Now? Coping Strategies for Caregivers (Running time: 22 minutes)

Paid and unpaid caregivers often set aside their own physical and mental health needs while caring for others. Dr. Lisa McGuire discusses her own coping strategies while caring for her mom and shares other strategies to help ensure caregivers feel supported. One coping tool that can help a caregiver is to ask him or her: How are you feeling right now? Talking about concerns and feelings can help relieve stress and promote resilience.

• Baby Boomers Who Are Caregivers Report Being in Poor Health (Running time 5 min 43 seconds)
• Caregivers Need Care Too (Running Time 30 sec)

Caregivers who are part of the baby boomer generation reported having more chronic disease, more disability, and lower self-rated health compared to non-caregivers-putting them at risk of needing care themselves.

• What About the Caregivers? (Running time 4 min 56 seconds)

Although caregiving has many benefits, it’s important to recognize that caregivers may be compromising their own health. One in five adults report being a caregiver for a family member or friend, and 21% say they are in fair or poor health, according to a large, long-term study of more than 252,000 adults.

• Protecting the Health of Family Caregivers (Running time 4 min 27 seconds)

This podcast discusses the role of family caregivers and the importance of protecting their health. It is primarily targeted to public health and aging services professionals.

Guardianship Resources 

The Department of Elder Affair’s Office of Public & Professional Guardians (OPPG). The Office of Public & Professional Guardians (OPPG), housed within the Department of Elder Affairs, appoints local public guardians to provide guardianship services to persons who do not have adequate income or assets to afford a private guardian and there are no willing family or friends to serve.

• How Is Capacity Determined? | DOEA OPPG (Running Time 3 min 17 sec)
• Limited Guardianship and the Proceedings | DOEA OPPG (Running Time 2 min 22 sec)
• What is a Limited Guardian? | DOEA OPPG (Running Time 1 min 22 sec)
• What is Guardian of the Property? | DOEA OPPG (Running Time 3 min 14 sec) 

• The Florida Bar’s pamphlet on Guardianship.

A guardianship is a legal proceeding in the circuit courts of Florida in which a guardian is appointed to exercise the legal rights of an incapacitated person.

• The Florida State Guardianship Association: What is Guardianship?

Guardianship is a legal process in which a person’s rights are delegated to someone else to act on their behalf. This is a protective measure for individuals who cannot make decisions, cannot communicate decisions, or cannot act in their own best interest.