Caregiver Resources
Caregivers provide support to someone who needs help. It doesn’t matter how many hours per week are spent providing support. Caring for a family member or friend is not something most of us are prepared to do, nor is it easy. Learning about being a caregiver may help you provide the care your friend or loved one needs.
Caregiver Support Groups
Has your role as a family caregiver ever left you feeling lonely, isolated, stressed, uncertain, confused, overwhelmed or frustrated? If so, that’s normal.
Support groups provide a safe place where you can share your feelings, get
social support, learn from others, discuss skills and learn about local resources.
Marquette
Monthly caregiver/ senior support groups are offered at Mill Creek Clubhouse the third Thursday of the month at 2:00 pm. Please see our Calendar page for more information. Support groups are free and open to all members of the community. The group features a different speaker each month and time for open discussion.
Virtual Caregiver Support Group
This support group, offered by UPCAP is intended specifically for Upper Peninsula family caregivers. The group is facilitated by a moderator and meets virtually from 2:00—3:00 pm EST on the second Tuesday of each month. Registration is required. Please call 906-217-3019
Caregiver Newsletter
Check out our monthly newsletter full of information, events and resources for caregivers:
Decision Making
You may be caring for someone who needs assistance with day-to-day activities, but can still make their own decisions about personal matters such as any household issues, financial affairs, and medical care.
Being familiar with and understanding your loved one’s personal values and wishes will be important as you become responsible for making decisions for them. Advance care planning is a process that allows people to make decisions about the care you would want to receive if they happen to become unable to communicate them. Advance directives are tools that enable people to write
down their preferences on a legal form and appoint someone to speak for them if they are no longer able. To help ensure peace of mind for your loved one and for the caregiver, it is a good idea to have healthcare power of attorney, financial power of attorney, a living will, and a plan for funeral arrangements planned out in advance.
Tips for Caregivers
- Care giving is a job and making time for yourself is something you have earned. Reward yourself with respite breaks often. Ask us about out volunteer and respite care services
- Watch out for signs of depression, and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it. (click here for more information on signs of depression)
- When other people offer to help you, accept their offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
- Educating yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors will make things easier.
- Trust your instincts. In most cases they’ll lead you in the right directions.
- Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling, so take care of your back. Learn proper techniques to avoid injuries.
- Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to strive to achieve your
own personal goals. - Seek support from other caregivers; there is great strength in knowing you are not alone. Support groups are available.
- As a caregiver and a citizen you have rights, stand up for them.
Signs of Caregiver Burnout:
- You find yourself not having the energy you are use to having
- It seems like you catch every cold or flu that’s going around
- Even after sleeping or taking a break, you’re constantly exhausted
- Your own needs get neglected, either because you’re too busy or you
don’t care anymore - You get little satisfaction as a caregiver and your life revolves around it
- Even when help is available, you have a hard time relaxing
- You’re increasingly impatient and irritable with the person you’re caring for
- You feel helpless, hopeless, and overwhelmed
* If you fall under three or more of the above signs of caregiver burnout call Lake Superior Life Care & Hospice to discuss opportunities to utilize volunteer, respite care, and other services. (906) 225-7760
Training and Support:
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
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. To learn more visit: upcap.org/powerful-tools-for-caregivers
Caregiver Support Consultation
Are you helping someone with health care, personal needs, or household chores? Caregiving for a loved one with chronic health conditions?
Caregiving can be very overwhelming and confusing, especially when you juggle other responsibilities like work, family, and other areas of your life. BRI Care Consultation was created to help caregivers address these challenges. This evidence-based program, developed by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, helps caregivers by providing guidance, coaching, and information about how to deal with the challenges of caregiving.
Caregiver Support Resources
- Alzheimer’s Association (Greater Michigan Chapter) https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving
- Caregiver Incentive Program https://caregiverincentiveproject.org/resources/
- UPCAP Caregiver Resource Center http://upcap.org/program/upper-peninsula-caregiver-resource-center/
- Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP): https://www.co.marquette.mi.us/departments/aging_services/docs/RSVP_Brochure.pdf
- Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly - Upper Michigan: https://houghton.littlebrothers.org/
- Veteran Caregiver Support Program https://www.caregiver.va.gov/help_landing.asp
- Marquette County Senior centers http://upcap.org/admin/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Marquette-County-Senior-Centers.pdf
- Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA): https://www.caregiver.org/