Caregivers

One in four people are caring for a loved one who is sick or has a debilitating condition. Informal family caregiving is estimated to cost literally billions of dollars each year. Caregiving can be stressful for the individual even though the person cares a great deal for his or her family member who is ill. Caregiving can also be rewarding, provided the caregiver has the tools to take care of themselves during the process.

That's where LifeStream's Caregiver program comes in. Our program helps provide services, conducts support groups and special classes and offers resources (see list below) to help caregivers be the best they can be.

We also help grandparents who are caring full time for their grandchildren.

One such service is respite care, and guidelines for that program follows:

CareGiver Respite Program Guidelines
LifeStream offers family caregivers temporary help. The primary purpose is to provide respite (time away for caregivers): however, other supplemental items may be approved.

Eligibility requirements:
* Care recipient must be 60 years of age or older.
* Caregiver must be a family member. A grandparent must provide full-time care for child(ren).
* Consideration will first be given to those with the most need.

Application process:

Call 2-1-1 if you are in East Central Indiana or call LifeStream Services at (800) 589-1121 and ask for our Information and Referral office. Tell them you are calling about the CareGiver Program. You will be asked questions for a client profile (if you are not a current client) and prescreened before referral.

Contact will be made by one of our licensed care managers and an appointment will be set for the care manager to come and do an evaluation and provide information and support to the caregiver.

Each situation will be evaluated individually.

We will share resources to assist you and help you through the process (if needed).

In all cases approval must be made prior to arrangement for services, and provider must be willing to be paid after services are given or item is delivered. The vendor must provide the services tax-free as well as provide their social security number or tax ID number.

If structural changes are requested to the home, the caregiver or recipient must hold the deed and recipient must live in that home.

More than one quote may be necessary for large items.

The program is for those who live in Delaware, Madison, Grant, Blackford, Jay, Randolph or Henry counties in East Central Indiana.

Related websites:

Free Caregiver Newsletters
General Information for 50 - Plus
Geriatric Assessments
Grandparents / Kinship Parenting
Health / Medical/Medicines
Local Hospitals
Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
Specific Diagnosis
Special Needs Children
Stress Reduction