Caregiver support program available

An estimated 15 million Americans over age 18 provide unpaid care and support to older people and adults with disabilities within their communities.

With populations increasing in age, limitations in healthcare systems — including long-term healthcare facilities — and the lack of affordable healthcare, these numbers are expected to increase. It’s important to keep family caregivers healthy and able to provide care for loved ones over the long term. Some of the ways to do this include ensuring support for caregivers and recipients, respite services and access to education.

The goal of the Wyoming Senior Citizens Inc.’s National Family Caregiver Support Program is to lessen the burden and level of stress to individuals who are primary caregivers to a cognitively impaired person or functionally dependent person over age 60. The program tries to do this through respite care and supplemental services on a limited basis.

Hours of service are based on the needs of the family as well as how many service hours may be available in an area. The program does not currently provide services overnight or on weekends.

For more information, contact Nancy Brown at 307-262-4658.