Keep the essentials in one place
One folder or notebook, kept where everyone helping can find it, saves hours of searching later. Put in it:
- The names and phone numbers of the care team, the pharmacy, and who to call after hours.
- The current medication list, as given by the care team, with the date it was last updated.
- Insurance cards and plan names: Medicare, Medi-Cal, Medicare Advantage or other coverage.
- Upcoming appointments, and the discharge instructions from the last hospital or facility stay.
- Copies of any signed documents naming who may speak or decide for the person.
- A short note of what matters most to the person: routines, preferences, language, faith, food.
Caregiver Resource Centers
California has 11 Caregiver Resource Centers serving family caregivers of adults with chronic and debilitating health conditions. Together they cover all 58 counties, at low or no cost.1 Their services include:2
- Family consultation and care planning
- Respite care, so the caregiver can take a break
- Short-term counseling and support groups
- Legal and financial consultation
The centers have been administered by the California Department of Aging since July 2022.3
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
IHSS provides in-home help to eligible people who are aged, blind or disabled, as an alternative to care outside the home, so they can stay safely in their own homes.4 Some of what to know:
- The person must be a California resident living at home, and must have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination.4
- You apply through your county IHSS office. The application is available in several languages, including Armenian, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.4
- A county social worker visits the home to decide eligibility, the kinds of services needed and how many hours are authorized.4
- If services are approved, the person hires their own provider and is that provider's employer. Some counties also offer county-contracted providers or county homemakers.4
Your local aging agency
California works with 33 Area Agencies on Aging that coordinate local services for older adults and adults with disabilities. To find yours, call 800-510-2020.5 Outside California, or for a national directory, the federal Eldercare Locator connects older adults and their families with local services: 1-800-677-1116.6
When your family member lives in a facility
Long-Term Care Ombudsman representatives help residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living, with problems about daily care, health, safety and personal preferences. Their services are free and complaints are confidential.7 The Statewide Ombudsman Hotline, 1-800-231-4024, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.7
Free help with Medicare questions
HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, gives free, confidential one-on-one counseling on Medicare and long-term care insurance. Call 1-800-434-0222 to reach the local office.8
Looking after yourself
Feeling stretched is common, and asking for help is part of doing the job well. Caregiver Resource Centers offer short-term counseling, support groups and respite,2 and the care settings guide explains respite and adult day options.