Helping Families Care for Loved Ones

Free online courses, assessment tools, and resources

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Preparing for Your Unique Journey

Adapting to change, accepting your limitations

There is no roadmap with step-by-step directions for the journey of caregiving. Every situation is unique - our life circumstances and the needs of our loved ones are constantly changing. ElderHelp's team of aging experts has created a series of online courses with valuable resources, worksheets, and other tools to help you better understand your role as a family caregiver.


Course 1 - What is Family Caregiving?

  • Defining Family Caregiving

    ​​There are nearly 50 million people in the United States providing care to loved ones, and that number is growing every day. You will become familiar with the different types of caregiving roles as well as helpful aging and care-related terminology.

  • Your Role as a Caregiver

    Understanding the responsibilities of family caregiving is key to successfully accessing services and supports. Use our simple guide to determine which caregiving role you play now, and how it may change in the future.

  • Getting Started

    Caregiving can be multifaceted, and for many caregivers, their instinct is to do it all. This course will introduce you to four essential strategies for getting support and avoiding burn out.

Course 2 - Family-Centered Caregiving

  • Personalize a Needs Assessment

    A needs assessment can help you plan for the future and improve communication between other family members and medical professionals. You will learn how to create an assessment outlining the level of assistance your loved one needs.

  • Develop a Caregiver Needs Assessment

    Providing care can be overwhelming, and too often, family caregivers lose track of their own needs. Use our easy tool to help you stay organized, define the specifics of your caregiving responsibilities, monitor changes, and make adjustments.

  • Outline an Action Plan

    Many tasks, such as coordinating transportation, assisting with medications, or hiring professional help require careful planning. Our action plan template will help you set goals, seek resources, involve others, and identify barriers.

Course 3 - Self-care

  • Identify Barriers to Self-Care

    Many caregivers find it difficult to prioritize their own needs. This course will help you identify the barriers that may be preventing you from getting the help and support you need.

  • Seek Out Resources & Support

    It may seem impossible to balance self-care with the demands of caregiving and other day-to-day responsibilities. You will learn about respite care options and other resources that may be able to support you through this journey.

  • Get Inspired by Self-Care Stories

    There is no set recipe for self-care; learning how to maintain balance and find joy in life is different for everyone. You will be able to draw inspiration from other family caregivers who share their creative approaches to self-care.

Course 4 - When Your Loved One Has Dementia

  • What is Dementia?

    About 16 million caregivers in the United States care for someone with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. In this course you will learn about the different types of dementia, key terms, and stages of the disease.

  • Dementia Care Strategies

    Being a caregiver for a person with dementia can add complexities to an already challenging role. Use our easy safety checklist to help keep your loved one safe.

  • Communication Tips

    Dementia often results in the loss of communication skills, which makes interacting with loved ones difficult. Learn tips on how to successfully communicate and keep meaningful connections with your loved one.

Course 5 - Working Family Caregivers

  • Balancing Work Life & Caregiving

    As your caregiving responsibilities change, you may be faced with making adjustments to your work life. This course will help you understand the progression of care your loved one may need, and how it may impact your work schedule over time so you are able to better prepare.

  • Building a Network of Support

    Employers are becoming more aware of the fact that their employees are caring for aging loved ones, however it is important for you to ask questions and understand the benefits offered. Utilize our resources and tips to create a network of support in the workplace.

  • Using Technology

    Technology advances are making it easier to keep track of medical needs and improve communication. You will learn about tools that can help you organize care for your loved one, maximizing your time during the workday.

From Family Caregivers

What caregivers are saying about our courses:

Gerontologist Debby Dodds

Discover the Joy in Caregiving

Gerontologist Debby Dodds

"I’ve been caring for my mom and working full-time for nearly a decade, and my only regret, is not educating myself earlier. It’s easy to get caught up in being busy, but taking the time to learn about resources and strategies, will help you avoid burn out and discover the joy in caregiving."
Valerie Gunn

Don't Wait to Make a Plan

Valerie Gunn

"I was a caregiver years before I realized it; I’d just help out my Mom from time to time. It wasn’t until she had a scary fall that our family realized we needed to be more proactive. If you haven’t put together a plan yet, then these courses are for you!"
Diann

Learning to be a Long-Distance Caregiver

Diann

“I have been my Mom’s long distance caregiver for a number of years. Due to a recent diagnosis my role changed from occasional to very involved caregiver. I think the tools in these online courses are valuable for planning under all circumstances and during changing times. The forms help you organize your thoughts and develop a plan of action. I also appreciated the reminder to ask for help from other family members. While remaining the 'point person' having others take on specific jobs is very helpful.”

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