The Family Caregiver Services Program is designed to meet the unique needs of family members who are caring for a loved one. In many cases, the spouse or sibling who lives closest to an aging parent will become the primary caregiver. Those who live further away can still provide assistance by offering emotional support and occasional respite to the primary caregiver. It is important to ask the primary caregiver what you can do to help. Staying in touch with your parents through phone calls or emails can also help to reduce some of the stress that they may be feeling.
Even though it may not seem like much, simply listening can be a great source of comfort. The IHSS program provides non-medical care services, and participants are able to choose their own “individual provider” instead of having the state make this decision for them. Since these services are largely non-specialized, participants have the freedom to choose whoever they prefer to provide them. This could include family members such as adult children of aging parents or even spouses.
