Caregiver Corner
What's a caregiver? A caregiver can be a spouse, adult child, sibling, other family member (including in-laws), friend, a volunteer, or aide. Some caregivers are paid; many are not. Many terms are used -- caregiver, care partner, caretaker, and carer. We use them as synonyms.
Caregivers can provide emotional support, financial support, hands-on care, care management, attention, and love.
Caring for someone with PD can start out easy, especially when the person with PD is still independent. But, as the person with PD becomes less independent, the load shifts to the caregiver. The caregiver may become the chaffeur, cook, housekeeper, spokesperson, scheduler, counselor, pharmacist, nursing assistant, and on and on.
Information for PD Caregivers
Best Resources for PD Caregivers. Check out our resource list, and let us know if you think we're missing something!
Email List. Sign up for our "PD Caregivers" email list. We share tips and resources we pick up from PD caregiver-only support group meetings. We read books and articles on caregiving and summarize them for busy caregivers. We share resources on PD caregiving, caregiving generally, and dementia caregiving.
PD Caregiver-only Support Groups
Join a support group! Groups are wonderful places to learn new information, stay updated on research and treatment, become motivated, share tips, socialize, and gain support.
If you live in Northern or Central California, find a caregiver-only support group near you. These groups are for caregivers coping with:
- Parkinson's disease
- Lewy body dementia (also called Parkinson's Disease Dementia)
- Multiple system atrophy
- Progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndrome
If you live in other parts of the US, consider these online support groups or video support groups as many are for Parkinson's caregivers only. Also, contact the nearest APDA Information & Referral Center.
Northern California Referral Services
If you live in Northern or Central California, the Stanford APDA Information & Referral Center can provide referrals to:
- social workers, counselors, family therapists, or psychologists who are familiar with challenges faced by caregivers
- geriatric care managers
We don't make recommendations for care facilities, care agencies, home health agencies, hospice agencies, or private caregivers. We can tell you what suggestions we've heard shared at caregiver support group meetings. It's best if you attend a meeting yourself to obtain suggestions!
Contact us for information and referrals if you live in Northern or Central California!
List of this month's caregiving-related webinars from our Stanford PD Community Blog...
Check out a recent caregiving-related post from our Stanford PD Community Blog on...
“Being a PD Caregiver” – Teleconference notes
