As the number of older adults continues to rise, so does the number of family members stepping into caregiving roles — often without pay, training or support.
Through the Pennyrile Area Development District, two programs are working to ease that burden by providing resources, financial assistance and relief for caregivers across the region.
Miranda White, National Family Caregiver Program coordinator, said caregiving is something nearly everyone will face at some point.
“Rosalyn Carter has a quote and I say it I think until I’m blue in the face that there’s four types of people in the world,” White said. “There’s those that have been caregivers, those that are caregivers, those that will be caregivers, or those that will need a caregiver.”
White oversees the National Family Caregiver Support Program, a federally funded project designed to help unpaid caregivers continue caring for loved ones at home rather than placing them in long-term care facilities.
The need is significant. White said 66% of older adults with chronic disabilities are cared for by family members, and an estimated 65 million people provide some level of care each year.
“Whether it is a full-time caregiver, whether they’re bringing a meal to their parents, whether they’re helping their neighbor get their trash out, they are a caregiver,” she said.
One of the primary services offered through the program is respite care, which provides temporary relief for caregivers.
“So respite is a break,” White said. “So if you’re a day-in, day-out caregiver, you might need a break. Maybe you just need to go to the doctor … maybe you just need a nap.”
Funds are used to reimburse caregivers for in-home help, either from someone they know or through an agency.
“They can go to their appointments. They can play a round of golf. They can have that break that they so desperately need to avoid caregiver burnout and the word isolation,” she said.
In addition to respite care, the program offers supplemental assistance for everyday needs, such as medical supplies, nutritional drinks and equipment like shower chairs or bedside commodes.
“Just little things that can help their day-to-day life and help ease that burden for that caregiver,” White said.
The program also provides support groups, caregiver training and education, including workshops focused on dementia care.
Eligibility for the National Family Caregiver Support Program includes caregivers of individuals age 60 or older, or those caring for someone with a dementia diagnosis. Both the caregiver and care recipient must live within the PADD’s nine-county service area.
The program also serves relatives age 55 and older who are raising children in their homes.
That need is growing, according to White.
“There are 2.3 million grandparents that are the primary caregiver for children in their home right now,” she said.
Tammy Meredith, caregiver programs support specialist, works with the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program, which focuses specifically on grandparents raising grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
“In our area, we have about 4,812 grandchildren being raised by grandparents,” Meredith said. “And about 25% of those households have income levels below the federal poverty limit.”
She added that many of those caregivers face additional challenges.
“About 54% of those grandparents are over the age of 60 and have a lot of chronic health issues. They live on fixed incomes,” Meredith said. “And many of the grandchildren themselves have experienced things like trauma, parental substance use, or the loss of a parent.”
The Kentucky program helps provide essential items such as beds, clothing, school supplies and hygiene products.
In one recent case, Meredith said the program helped a grandparent obtain safe sleeping arrangements for her grandchildren.
“We were able to help her get cribs that were up-to-date and safe … so those kids had a safe place to sleep,” she said.
Unlike the national program, the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program does not have a minimum age requirement for caregivers, but applicants must meet income guidelines — generally below 150% of the federal poverty level — and be the primary caregiver. A parent of the child cannot reside in the home, and the children must be under age 18 and related by blood, marriage or adoption.
Both programs require applicants to live within the Pennyrile Area Development District service region.
To begin the process, caregivers can contact the Pennyrile Area Development District to request services. Staff will schedule a home visit to assess needs and determine eligibility, then connect families with available resources.
White said the goal is simple: help caregivers continue doing the work they are already doing — with support.
“So if you have been a caregiver or you are a caregiver, I want to say thank you,” she said.
For more information or to apply, contact the Pennyrile Area Development District’s Aging Services division by phone or through its website.
