The Family Caregiver Alliance estimates that nearly 44 million Americans provide some type of informal care for adult family members, the majority of them serving aging loved ones. Whether you are advocating for your senior loved one while coordinating care from afar or providing them with hands-on assistance daily or even weekly, it is important to know about any available resources that may make your caregiving role a bit easier.
Fortunately, resources for caregivers are all around the Middletown, NJ, local area. You are only a few clicks or phone calls away from helpful support and resources right in your loved one’s Middletown backyard. Here’s where to go to begin your search for support.
Caregiver Support Groups
Connecting and sharing stories with other family caregivers who really understand what you are going through can be therapeutic and helpful. You can find a variety of caregiver support groups in the Middletown area, including those that are focused on specific diagnoses (like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease) or general caregiving. During the coronavirus pandemic, most support groups have switched to a telephone or video call format, so be sure to double-check with the provider prior to your first meeting.
Nutritional Support
If you are currently preparing meals to stock your loved one’s freezer or are in charge of grocery shopping for your loved one, you may wonder how you can get a break every once in a while. The Middletown area offers nutritional support services to older adults in the area, which you can schedule in advance. The Meals on Wheels program, for example, thrives throughout Monmouth County. More than 1,000 seniors receive home-delivered meals throughout the county Monday through Friday. In addition, senior centers throughout the area offer congregate meal sites, though the coronavirus pandemic has caused some hiccups in the schedule. Be sure to contact the senior center prior to attending.
Middletown Senior Center
Technically located in Leonardo, NJ, the Middletown Senior Center welcomes all Middletown older adults and even nonresidents too. Membership for those who are 60 or older is free, and members can drop in to enjoy fitness classes, health lectures, or a cup of coffee with a new friend. This can be the perfect location to encourage your loved one to go to when they express feelings of loneliness, or when you can’t make it out for your regular visit.
Monmouth County Office on Aging
Perhaps the best resources for caregivers in the Middletown area are located in the Monmouth County Office on Aging. A quick phone call or search of their website will give you more information on veteran services, as well as on Project Lifesaver, a free program designed to provide assistance for seniors who are living with dementia and are prone to wandering. You can also find information on the county’s Wellness Discount Program, which can help your loved one save money on eye care, medications, and more.
Senior Living Communities
The Middletown area has multiple senior living communities that offer unique options for older adults who are looking for luxury retirement, additional assistance, or a specially designed dementia care program. At Arbor Terrace Middletown, our community offers solutions ranging from independent living to assisted living to our Gardens neighborhood for older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
Our community’s staff members are dedicated to getting to know the likes and dislikes of each of our residents. We call this deep connections, and our understanding of your loved one’s history and preferences comes in handy, especially in our personalized approach to dementia care. Our team is also committed to providing family members with education, support, and resources that allow them to better advocate for their loved one and take care of themselves.
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