ARLINGTON — With the nation’s troubled economy, large numbers of layoffs and financial hard times hitting more and more people, the number of adults serving as unpaid caregivers for friends or relatives is rising.
In many cases, those people are providing care to aging parents, someone who is ill or disabled or someone who has suffered severe injuries.
"It’s growing," said Christina Ivanna, a Snohomish County social worker who coordinates the program for the north county area. "I am seeing and talking to more people who are affected."
The Stillaguamish Senior Center and Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics are sponsoring a free daylong Caregiver Fair on Thursday for those providing care to adults. The fair is at Cascade Valley Hospital’s Cascade Conference Room.
A brown-bag lunch from noon to 1 p.m. will feature Susan McCurry, a clinical geriatric psychologist from the University of Washington School of Nursing.
The senior center’s Caregiver Project runs a support group for unpaid caregivers from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and drop-ins are welcome.
"It’s something a lot of us will end up doing," said Jo Olson, executive director of the senior center at 18308 Smokey Point Blvd.
Long Term Care and Aging of Snohomish County received a grant to identify unpaid caregivers and provide them with assistance or direct them to resources that can help. John Peterson is the Family Caregivers Program manager.
The program provides free kits with basic information on caregiving as well as a lending library and information on classes, resources and support groups.
Too often, Ivanna said, care providers are "overwhelmed tremendously, or they’ve just gotten involved." In some cases, families can’t afford private care and placement for a loved one. And many times, the caregiver still is the family’s primary wage earner or the person who takes care of the rest of the family and the home, she said.
She’s at the center 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and also provides help in Marysville, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens and Darrington.
"When they’re feeling overwhelmed and numb by all they’re dealing with, I give them resources," Ivanna said. "Often, I hear, ‘I’m not a caregiver, I’m a son — or a daughter.’ But meanwhile, they’re putting in lots of hours taking care of someone. There’s a lot of doubt and questioning."
For more information on the Family Caregiver Program, call the program’s resource line at 425-290-1240, or on the Web at www.snocare.org.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
The Stillaguamish Senior Center Caregiver Project and Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics are sponsoring a free Caregiver Fair for those providing care to family or friends. It runs 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thursday at Cascade Valley Hospital’s Cascade Conference Room, 330 S. Stillaguamish Ave.
Consultations, a trauma nurse, a comfort corner and information about the hospital will be available. A social worker also will be on site.
For more information on the Caregiver Fair, call Linda at Cascade Valley Hospital, 360-435-0514.
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