11-27-2024 Primetime Living - Flipbook - Page 12
12 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, November 27, 2024
LONG-TERM CARE
Taking care of
your family
Self-care is important
for caregivers
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
T
he news was applauded by those who need it the most. In 2022, the
Administration for Community Living (ACL: acl.gov) provided a grant for a
national study on family caregivers. The recipients were to report to the U.S.
Congress on their findings and how the target audience could be supported. The
goal was to turn it into a national program.
There are only four
kinds of people in the
world. Those who have
been caregivers. Those
who are currently caregivers. Those who will
be caregivers, and those
who will need a caregiver.
— Rosalyn Carter
The Commission on Caregiving, with
support from Maryland’s Department
of Human Services and Department of
Disabilities, put out a 2023 Maryland
Caregiver Survey.
The grant MDoA was awarded by
ACL includes building upon that 2023
Caregiver Survey to broaden reach and
to use that data, combined with other
core data sets, to target underserved
communities with significant numbers
of caregivers, many of whom are overwhelmed, through outreach and workshops.
In addition, there was a study that
resulted in the 2022 National Strategy to
Support Family Caregivers. Its mission
statement read:
“Family caregivers include people of
all ages, from youth to grandparents;
people with and without disabilities; people providing care from a distance; and
people meeting a wide variety of needs.
Until now, there has been no national
approach to recognize and support family caregivers.”
All states receive Older American Act
funds to distribute to Area Agencies on
Aging for the National Family Caregiver
Support Program. In addition, ACL has
selected 4 states to advance the 2022
National Strategy, building upon their
existing work.
As part of this plan, five strategies
– shared overarching goals with lots of
sub-headings – were specified. It was to
be the start of a national plan that could
be pushed out across the country and
supported by each state since they all
need it.
1. Increase awareness and outreach.
2. Build partnerships and engagement
with family caregivers.
3. Strengthen services and supports.
4. Ensure financial and
workplace security.
5. Expand data, research, and evidence-based practices.
In 2024, ACL selected four states
(Maryland, California, Massachusetts
and Wisconsin) to advance the 2022
National Strategy, building upon their
existing work. For what is expected to
be a growing need for caregivers, the
money will be used to increase outreach,
advance partnerships, and strengthen
services and support for family caregivers.
Leslie Ray, Division Director overseeing all Older Americans Act-funded
programs, including the National Family
Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP),
part of the MDOA, says, “The grant will
primarily fund a position that will work
across state agencies to help us develop
policies and procedures that support
caregivers across the lifespan, and funds
the development of resources, workshops, and data analysis to identify and
address caregiver needs in our state.
“Some Commissions have funded leadership, and we think this could
be valuable for the Commission on
Caregiving, too. This grant-funded position will allow us to test this theory.”
