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Caregiver Services

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Support, respite and resources for anyone actively caring for a friend, family member or neighbor

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You are caregiving when you take care of a friend, family member, or neighbor who is an older adult. This journey can be difficult, but you are not alone. Wilder Caregiver Services is here to help you. Speak to our caregiver consultants who can connect you to resources and events that support you in your role as a caregiver.

Have questions regarding your unique situation? Or interested in learning more about caregiving support groups, resources, and education? Connect with one of our Caregiver Consultants.

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Caregiver Consultation

Entry point into all caregiver services. The assessment will explore your strengths, needs and goals as a family caregiver. The assessment will be used to create a customized caregiver plan that includes goal setting, problem solving, coaching and ongoing support to reach established goals.

Caregiver Coaching

Weekly coaching following a consultation in order to reach caregiver goals.

P.S. I Understand

Caregiver peer support; former, experienced caregiver volunteers will be matched with new or current caregivers to walk alongside them during their caregiver journey; volunteer role is not to be a constant companion but to be a kind and supportive listener.

CaregivingNow

Caregivers are savvy members of online communities–but where can you go to connect with other caregivers online? We are creating a true community space–an online gathering place – where caregivers can come for humor, connection, information and friendship. Join the Facebook Group!

What Is a Caregiver?

Did you know that doing common tasks like reminding your mom to take her medications or taking a spouse to an appointment is considered caregiving?

National research on caregiver self-identification (Kutner, 2001) showed that only 19 percent of people actively caring for a friend, family member, or neighbor self-identified as a caregiver. When people identify as a caregiver, they’re more likely to seek out services and resources that will help. That means healthier caregivers and communities.

In 2010, we gathered input from stakeholders and partner organizations to help us design the Caregiver Awareness campaign to raise awareness about identifying as a caregiver. This campaign been featured across Minnesota and in other states. For more information about the campaign development and impact, see our article in Generations – Journal of the American Society on Aging.

To find out how you can use the campaign to further caregiving awareness in your community, call us at 651-280-CARE (2273) or send an email to caregiving@wilder.org.

Caregiver Support Groups

Monthly peer support group, led by a facilitator. Groups include topics of interest to the caregivers, discussion and resources.

Learn More

How can we help caregivers? Pause and listen.

We believe that an open discussion about caregiving can help our communities find new opportunities and ways to support individuals who are caring for friends, neighbors and family members. Through the Caregiver Voices series, Wilder is sharing stories of about the challenges, realities and personal experiences of informal caregivers.

Laura Gilbert, a caregiver who attends support groups at Wilder Caregiver Services

Caregiver Voices: Taking Care of Yourself Can Mean Saying No

From her home in the Twin Cities, Laura Gilbert provides long-distance caregiving for her mother in Florida. Laura spends a lot of time on the phone with her mother while paid drivers and neighbors provide day-to-day assistance. In the p...More about this story »

More Stories

How Can We Help Caregivers? Pause and Listen.

Wilder Caregiver Services support family and friend caregivers of older adults as they continue to provide care, so older adults can live in the community as lo... Read the article »

In Their Own Voices: Five Books by Caregivers about the Caregiving Experience

One of the most amazing moments in the caregiver support groups at Wilder is when two people with different caregiving situations realize that they are experien... Read the article »

Capacity to Care - Caregiver Services

Read the project »

Caregiving in Context

Read the project »

*This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant to the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a special legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Caregiver Services