Resources For Caregivers

Caring for someone who is very ill may be the biggest challenge any of us face. In your desire to do all you can for your loved ones, you must take care of yourself as well. Resources available to you through VNA of Care New England, links to our programs, seminars and services are listed below. Links to information and services available through state and national organizations are also listed.

VNA of Care New England is a Medicare-certified home care agency providing a full range of health services to people of all ages who require care at home. Click on the links below to learn more about our programs or call (401) 737-6050.

• Skilled Nursing Care is provided in the patient's home.
• Rehabilitative Therapy, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
• Fall Prevention Program, designed to reduce the number of falls and fall-related injuries for older adults.
• Hospice promotes comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients through medical, emotional and spiritual care at home.
• Bereavement Support Groups, held at various times and locations throughout the year to support individuals and families who have lost a loved one.

• Rhode Island Advance Directive Planning for Important Healthcare Decisions - This packet contains legal documents that protect your right to refuse medical treatment you do not want, or to request treatment you do want, in the event you lose the ability to make decisions yourself.
• Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs, the state's primary agency devoted to community-based programs for seniors.
• The Point, helps Rhode Islanders locate long term care resources for seniors and adults with disabilities. (401) 462-4444

• Family Caregiver Alliance and its National Center on Caregiving can be reached at 1-800-445-8106 (M-F, 9-5, PST) or info@caregiver.org
• AARP's website has a long-distance caregiver page with many useful links.
• Administration on Aging is the home of the Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116 (M-F, 9-6, EST), and the oversight agency for the National Family Caregiver Support Program. AoA's Home Page iwww.aoa.gov
• Alzheimer's Caregiver, information from the National Institutes of Health
• Caregivers/MedLinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
• Medicare has a hotline: 1-800-MEDICARE, or 1-800-633-4227. Includes ratings for home health agencies across the U.S.
• National Council on Aging Benefits Check Up
• National Family Caregivers Association is a support organization for caregivers.