A caregiver is someone who provides assistance to another such as:

* An elder

* A grandparent caring for a child or children under the age of 18 years; or

* An elder caring for an individual with mental retardation or developmental disabilities

No one type of person is a caregiver, and caregivers come from all ages and walks of life. But each caregiver has a deep personal relationship with the person he or she is caring for.

There are informal and formal caregivers. Throughout this website we will be referring to the term caregiver and will use this term to mean an informal caregiver, such as a family member. A formal caregiver or professional caregiver will also be discussed, however the formal title such as physicians, case managers, social workers, home health aides, etc. will be used.

An informal caregiver is a family caregiver of an elder or other family member who is sick or disabled. But all informal caregivers have a deep personal relationship with the person they are caring for, be it an individual who is an elder (over 60 years of age), or someone who is younger and disabled.

The informal caregiver is the one who finds the upheaval of changing family dynamics that occur because life has been turned upside down. There is no set timetable for working through the painful stages of grief which caregivers and care receivers all experience in their own personal and private way.

We Can Help

If you are a caregiver and need help,
please call 781-834-5581 or 781-834-5537.

Your call can always be confidential.

A Quick Guide to Services and Links

In addition to our skilled staff, here are some helpful agencies and organizations with valuable services for seniors and caregivers. To make these as helpful as possible, we have tried to include both phone numbers and internet web addresses.

In addition to the Marshfield Council on Aging, there are other local partners that can provide caregivers assistance.

*Family Caregivers Support Program,
Old Colony Elderly Services, 508-584-1561 or
e-mal, inco@oc-elderly.org

Submission for Caregiver Web Site

Daily Exercise can help us loose unwanted weight but is also a very useful way to reduce stress and anxiety. Scientific Studies have shown that regular exercise can help people stay healthy when under stress and it also works in the short term, to make us feel less anxious and happier.

It can be very difficult for a caregiver to find time to exercise each day. But these are some exercise choices that can be done even when there isn't much time available!

Yoga is a form of exercise which focuses on establishing balance between breathing and posture. It is believed that yoga can help increase flexibility, energy, and decrease stress. Most local community centers and gyms have yoga classes and it is also possible to practice yoga at home by using tapes and videos. The Marshfield COA offers yoga courses as well. For details please see the COA Newsletter.

Walking is a good form of aerobic activity because it can be done in a short period of time and almost anywhere. Doctors explain that even 20 minutes per day be beneficial to your physical and emotional health. Some people walk on their lunch break from work, with a pet , or with the person that you care for if he or she is able to walk. It is also a good way to spend some needed time alone while doing something good for yourself! Many local Councils on Aging have walking clubs and other exercise groups for community residents.

Swimming can be a very soothing and beneficial form of exercise. Many community centers have pools that are available to town residents and fitness centers often offer classes in aqua aerobics. Many people find that exercising in the water is calming and that it is easier to move about. The South Shore YMCA in Hanover offers an aquatic therapy course on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12-1pm. For more information, please call 781-829-8585.

The Family Caregiver Support Program understands that when the elderly need help, families respond, but the burden can be great. We put caregivers in touch with the services they need. You are not alone. For information call, The Family Caregiver Support Program at Old Colony Elderly Services, 1 800-242-0246.

* General Referral, Old Colony Planning Council
508-583-1833 or
e-mail, ocpc@ocpcrpa.org

*Living Options, call the local Housing Authority, or call
Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association,
(Mass-ALFA), 781-622-5999.

Our website, www.marshfieldcaregivers.org, can provide you with local resources about:

*Ongoing conferences for caregivers and professionals covering in-depth topics on caregiving, health and aging.

* A support group (link to support group)

* Educational forums for professionals and community members presented to update on current research, trends and new information on caregiving, health and aging.

The staff at the Marshfield COA can help you, the caregiver, begin to identify needs that may involve other services you need such as:

*Information on How to Get Respite and Day Care Services

*Arranging Care while you need to go away

*Care planning assessments to identify problems, eligibility for assistance, and need for services

*Financial, legal or medical referrals to specialists to avoid future problems and conserve assests

Our Services and website exist to help seniors and their caregivers get connected to the help they need. To best serve you, when you call the COA, please give us as much information as you can.

Contact Us at
Marshfield Council on Aging
230 Webster Street
Marshfield, MA 02050
781-834-5581or 781-834-5537
Fax: 781-834-5567