Family Caregiver Program
The
Family Caregiver Program provides elders and caregivers with information
and help with issues like:
- Memory disorders
- Housing
- Caregiving & caregiver respite
- Elder Law
- In-home Care
- Assistance navigating the elder care system
- Short-term care advice, support & guidance
- And much more!
All at no cost and in the comfort of your Franklin County or North Quabbin home if desired. Phone consultations and/or appointments in our main office are also options.
AARP recently released a 2011 national update on "The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving." This study suggests that in 2009 the unpaid work provided by family caregivers was about $450 billion, or 4 times what Medicaid spent on long term supports directly. Specific numbers for Massachusetts suggest that there are 858,000 caregivers at any given time, providing 821 million hours of care per year, and the value of the care they provide is $10.9 billion a year.
The study estimates that family caregivers over the age of 50 today who leave the workforce to care for an elderly relative can expect to lose $115,000 in wages, $138,000 in Social Security benefits and $50,000 in pension benefits.
For more information on the Family Caregiver Program, please call 800-732-4636, or 413-773-5555, or 978-544-2259, or TDD 413-772-6566, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or download a brochure (192K PDF).
Send us e-mail Updated June 2011