People at nursing home

Caregiver Support (Alabama Cares)


WHAT IS THE ALABAMA CARES PROGRAM?

Alabama Cares is a caregiver support program providing supportive services for unpaid caregivers providing at least 20 hours of service per week. Eligibility criteria for the Alabama Cares program include:

  • Caregivers providing care to individuals aged 60 and older;
  • Caregivers providing care to individuals of any age with a dementia-related diagnosis and related disorders;
  • Older relatives (including parents) aged 55 and older providing care to individuals aged 19-59 with severe disabilities;
  • Older relatives (not parents) aged 55 and older who are informally raising children under the age of 18.

CAREGIVERS CAN GET SUPPORT WITH:

  • Information A service that provides the individual with current information on opportunities & services available to the individuals within their communities; assesses the problems & capacities of the individual; links the individual to services; ensures that the individual receives services they are in need of; and services the entire community of older adults.
  • Caregiver Case Management Service is provided to a caregiver, at the direction of the caregiver, by an individual who is trained or experienced in the case management skills that are required to deliver services and coordination. Case Management is used to assess the needs, and to arrange, coordinate, and monitor an optimum package of services to meet the needs of the caregiver.
  • Caregiver Counseling A service designed to support caregivers & assist them in their decision-making and problem-solving. Counselors are service providers that are degreed and/or credentialed trained to work with older adults and families and specifically to understand & address the complex physical, behavioral, and emotional problems related to their caregiver roles.
  • Caregiver Training A service that provides family caregivers with instruction to improve knowledge and performance of specific skills relating to caregiving. Skills may include activities related to health, nutrition, and financial management; providing personal care; and communicating with health care providers and other family members.
  • Caregiver Respite (In-Home) A respite service provided in the home of the caregiver or care receiver allows the caregiver time away to do other activities.
  • Caregiver Respite (Out-of-Home Day) A respite service provided in settings other than the caregiver/care receiver’s home, including adult day care, senior center, or other non-residential settings (in the case of older relatives raising children, day camps) where an overnight stay does not occur.
  • Caregiver Respite (Out-of-Home Overnight) A respite service provided in residential settings such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult foster homes (or in the case of older relatives raising children, summer camps), in which the care-receiver resides in the facility (on a temporary basis) for a full 24-hour period of time.
  • Supplemental Services Supplies are provided on a limited basis to complement the care provided by caregivers. Examples of supplemental services include, but are not limited to, home modifications, assistive technologies, DME, emergency response systems, legal and/or financial consultation, transportation, and nutrition services.
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Our Alabama Cares team hosts an occasional event we call “Coffee Break” that provides Caregivers with a brief moment of respite through a variety of topics. Sessions are hosted LIVE on ZOOM and Facebook, and they are posted on our YouTube channel.

To stay up-to-date, please follow our Facebook page! The most recent session of “Coffee Break” can be viewed below:


 

Monthly Support Group

Our Alabama Cares Staff hosts a monthly Caregiver Support Groups on the third Thursday of every month. For more information, contact us today at (205) 670-5770, or email Chalane Mims at cmims@m4a.org, Jeremy Raines at jraines@m4a.org, or Macy Burnette at mburnette@m4a.org. Additional information on this support group can be found on the flyer below.


Upcoming Events and Resources

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Active Daily Living is a comprehensive population health platform that features one-of-a-kind assessments and communication tools focused on functional limitations and environmental hazards. The program gives older adults, family caregivers and providers the ability to identify, track and assist with daily life as well as identify at-risk seniors by providing personalized advice which include “no cost/low cost” tips for aging in place.

ADL has been professionally developed by experienced Occupational Therapists and Certified Aging in Place Specialists, all with the goal of mitigating risk, improving senior quality of life, and saving money for both seniors and providers.

M4A has partnered with Active Daily Living to provide FREE user accounts to the community. Get your FREE account today by clicking on the link below:


Service Provider Information

In-Home Direct Service Provider Forms:
Adult Day/Night Respite Provider Forms:

Billing Procedure for Direct Service Providers (SEE VIDEO BELOW):


Caregiver Training Information

UCLA Health Caregiver Training Videos Playlist:
Click Here

Provider Training Modules (Dr. Rita Jablonski, CRNP):
Click Here

Also, check out M4A’s new training website:
Click Here