Family and Caregiver Services

Area Agencies on Aging - Resources for Caregivers

The 13 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) across Illinois that provide funding for programs and services for family caregivers including, but not limited to:

• Assessment of Caregiver Needs: AAAs can refer caregivers to other programs after assessing the caregiver’s needs using a tool called TCARE. These programs can include Savvy Caregiver®, Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers™, support groups, counseling services, and gap filling services. If you are interested in learning more, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) using the map tool.
• Respite: Respite services are intended to provide caregivers with short-term relief; the length and locations may vary, but respite may be provided for an afternoon, several days, at home or in a facility-based setting. If you are interested in learning more about respite services in your area, contact your local AAA using the map tool, or the Illinois Respite Coalition using the search tool.     

Training for Caregivers 

Caregivers can complete online training videos and read information to better understand how to care for a loved one. There are several organizations that offer free, 24-hour access to training videos and other materials.

•  AARP
• Family Caregiver Alliance.
• SIU School of Medicine Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment
• The Alzheimer’s Association
• The American Cancer Society
• UCLA Health

Partnerships & Other Resources for Caregivers

• Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition: An inclusive, statewide, non-partisan coalition to support unpaid and information caregivers.
• Illinois Respite Coalition: A state-wide coalition of caregivers and respite providers dedicated to advocating support for families by ensuring access to quality respite services for the residents of Illinois.
• Family Caregiver Alliance: Works to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the people who receive their care.
• National Alliance for Caregiving: Works to promote a society that values, supports, and empowers family caregivers to thrive at home, work and life.
• Caregiver Action Network: Works to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, of the frailties of old age.
• Well Spouse Association: Provides peer-to-peer support to the wives, husbands, and partners of the chronically ill and/or disabled through programs, events, and resources.
• Benefits CheckUp: A tool developed by the National Council on Aging to connect older adults and people with disabilities to programs that can help pay for health care, medicine, food, utilities and more.
• Eldercare Locator: A tool developed by the U.S. Administration on Aging to connect older adults and their families to services.
• AARP: Caregiving resources
• CJE Senior Life: Jewish values for positive aging including consultations and counseling, care management, and community education events geared especially for families with an aging relative. 
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program: Offers clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The program’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of family caregivers who care for our Nation’s Veterans, through education, resources, support, and services. 
• University of Illinois Extension: Offers resources and guides to help caregivers on their caretaking journey.