For the Caregiver
Senior Health
As a caregiver, you may not always have the information you need to help the person you care for or you may need some help for yourself. Below are articles and resources that can support you as you care for an Older Adult.
Respite Care
Respite care provides short-term, temporary relief from the responsibilities of caregiving through the use of outside services to help prevent or delay placing your family member in a permanent facility. Many families use respite care to "take a break" for their own health and wellbeing. Respite care can be used for a few days or a few weeks, depending on your needs. Home health services or temporary facilities are two kinds of respite care. Many assisted living and skilled nursing facilities offer discounted respite rates for short-term stays.
Statewide Respite Care Program
Services include home health aides, medical or social adult day care, private duty nursing, or a short-term stay in a skilled nursing facility. Call 1-877-222-3737 or visit:
- State Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services
- Aging Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) of New Jersey
NJ CARE Act
The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act helps family caregivers with after-hospital care by requiring hospitals to:
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Identify a designated family caregiver when a patient is admitted.
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Notify the caregiver when the patient is to be moved or discharged.
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Provide that caregiver with adequate instruction for the care of the patient following the patient's discharge from the hospital.
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Should the patient decline to provide a caregiver, the hospital will make note of that.
Click here for more details on the NJ CARE Act.
Additional Caregiver Resources
- National Institute on Aging articles on Caregiving
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Caregiver Coalitions of the United Way of Northern NJ
- Morris County: 973-993-1160 x139
- North Essex: 973-746-4040 x209
- Somerset County: 908-253-6534
- Caregivers Connection
- Family Connections - Caregiver Connections Program
- Well-Spouse Association
- Visiting Nurse Association of Northern NJ
- Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills
