Welcome to Smyrna UCC!
Caregiver Support
Family Caregiver Support Program (Clackamas County). Are you the unpaid caregiver for a minor, an older adult, a person living with disability, or a person living with dementia? You may be eligible to participate in the Family Caregiver Support Program. Some of the services offered include:
- Assessment of needs;
- Connection to resources, information, and services available in the community;
- Education and training (e.g., the “Tools for Caregivers" class series;
- Respite & supplemental services. You may qualify for help paying for respite, counseling, legal assistance, clothes, groceries, etc.
Who Is eligible? Clackamas County residents who are the unpaid caregivers for:
-- adults at least 60 years of age
-- adults of any age living with Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia
-- minors up to age 18, if the caregiver is 55 years or older and a family member
-- persons living with disability, if the caregiver is 55 years or older and a family member
Want to know more? Call 503-650-5622 or go to http://www.clackamas.us/socialservices/respite.html.
Dementia Friendly America
This is a national organization intended to support adults living with dementia and their loved ones and caregivers by describing resources, sharing critical information, providing training, and helping improve response to dementia and its challenges at the community level throughout our nation. Please see their website, at https://dfamerica.org to learn more!!
Memory Café
Memory Café is a dementia-friendly gathering, typically involving refreshments, friendly conversation, and activities accessible to all. It is meant to welcome and support persons living with dementia, their loved ones, and their caregivers. Smyrna UCC has hosted a very successful Memory Café for our community in the recent past, and hopes to do so again soon!! To learn more about Memory Café and/or find other gatherings, please see their website: http://dfamerica.org/what-is-memory-cafe/.
AARP Family Caregiver Information
The American Association of Retired Persons provides a variety of resources, including caregiver guides (see: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/dementia-caregiving-guide/), Geriatric Care Manager information ( https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/geriatric-care-manager/), as well as webinars (see: https://www.aarp.org/events/caregiving/) to provide training and support. Members may have access to additional benefits not listed above.
The Well Spouse Association provides advocacy for and addresses the needs of people caring for a chronically ill and/or disabled spouse or partner. They offer peer to peer support groups and educate health care professionals and the general public about the challenges and issues “well” spouses face, as well as online resources including a chat forum for spousal caregivers. Call 732-577-8899 or visit their website at http://wellspouse.org to learn more.