News
Spotlight on Innovation: CareAware - Help and Hope for Family Caregivers
- By: USAging
- On: 09/21/2018 15:04:58
- In: Hot Topics in Aging
We're highlighting the cutting-edge programs and successful strategies used by the 2018 recipients of n4a's Aging Innovations Awards in this weekly spotlight feature. This week we're focusing on CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, winner in the Caregiving category.
In 2015, CICOA received a grant through the State of Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration to produce CareAware: Help and Hope for Family Caregivers, a six-part video series to increase support for family caregivers in Central Indiana. The series features interviews with local subject matter experts and caregivers who provide insights and practical advice on how caregivers can take care of themselves while also caring for loved ones. Topics covered in the series include: the journey of caregiving; key legal documents and advance directives for end-of-life care; dealing with negative emotions; preventing caregiver burnout; physical, emotional and financial abuse; and available community resources. All materials were initially housed on the CICOA website, including a caregivers workbook and other promotional resources for support group leaders.
In 2017, CICOA received a $5,000 grant from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) to reprint the materials and fund a standalone website at CareAwareJourney.org, allowing the agency to elevate the visibility of the CareAware resources and make them accessible to a national audience. In 2018, CICOA added video transcripts and a caregiver blog to the website, while a second AFA grant funded the addition of Spanish subtitles to the videos. The agency was also awarded a grant from Google for $10,000 of in-kind advertising support through Google AdWords, which allows CICOA to develop online advertisements promoting the program.
The series was also nominated for a 2018 Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award from the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving.
To learn more about this year's winners, read our press release and check out our book of winners to learn how your agency can implement this or similar programs in your community!