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HWN Suggests

The Family Caregiver Turns Pro

Everyone who thinks about the so-called work force problem for the elderly can see big trouble coming. Who’s going to provide care for the growing number of old people who, even with enormous efforts from family members, will most likely need more help? Or who don’t have families? And who prefer, overwhelmingly, to stay in their homes?

For now, the workers who take on home care represent a polyglot group. They work independently or through agencies; they are largely underpaid and lack benefits; they do a tough job and have high injury rates; they run the gamut from inadequately trained to professionally skilled. Already, we don’t have enough of them...

These low-wage aides,…

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Resources

Caregiver Action Network

The Caregiver Action Network is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. CAN serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease.

Carers UK

Carers UK is a charity set up to help the millions of people who look after an older, disabled or seriously ill family member or friend. We want society to respect, value and support carers. We believe that no one should have to care alone.

CaringInfo

CaringInfo, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, provides free resources to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis.

LeadingAge

LeadingAge is an association of 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to making America a better place to grow old. We advance policies, conduct research, and promote practices that support, enable and empower people to live fully as they age. Our promise: Inspire. Serve. Advocate.

National Alliance for Caregiving

Established in 1996, The National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on issues of family caregiving. Alliance members include grassroots organizations, professional associations, service organizations, disease-specific organizations, a government agency, and corporations.

Right at Home

In home care and assistance.

The Healthy Caregiver

The Foundation, is a Community Outreach, Education and Advocacy Organization. Our core mission is “Building Better Communities.” We work to achieve our mission by improving the quality of life in all communities.

Aging Life Care Association

Leading the community of Aging Life Care Professionals® through education, professional development, and the highest ethical standards.

American Association for Homecare

The American Association for Homecare works to preserve and strengthen access to care for the millions of Americans who require medical care in their homes. The Association represents healthcare providers, equipment manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community.

Canadian Home Care Association

The CHCA defines home care as an array of services for people of all ages, provided in the home and community setting, that encompasses health promotion and teaching, curative intervention, end-of-life care, rehabilitation, support and maintenance, social adaptation and integration and support for the family caregiver.

Home Care Association of America

HCAOA, formerly the National Private Duty Association (NPDA), is the national voice of private pay home care agencies. We provide programs, resources and services that can help make your agency successful in today’s competitive long-term care industry.

International Home Care Nurses Organization

The International Home Care Nurses Organization is a world-wide network of nurses interested in promoting excellence in home-based healthcare throughout the world.

Meals On Wheels Association of America

MOWAA is the oldest and largest national organization composed of and representing local, community-based Senior Nutrition Programs in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the U.S. Territories.

National Association for Home Care & Hospice

NAHC is the largest and most respected professional association representing the interests of Americans who need home care (including acute, long-term, and terminal care) and the caregivers that provide them with in-home health and supportive services.

PACE4You

PACE was created as a way to provide you, your family, caregivers, and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet your health care needs and to help you continue living in the community.

United Kingdom Homecare Association

UKHCA is the professional association of home care providers from the independent, voluntary, not-for-profit and statutory sectors. UKHCA helps organisations that provide social care, which may include nursing services, to people in their own homes, promoting high standards of care and providing representation with national and regional policy-makers and regulators.

AARP

AARP is leading a revolution in the way people view and live life after 50.

Accreditation Commission for Health Care

Welcome to ACHC, a national organization developed by homecare and alternate-site healthcare industry providers. Our board, advisors, surveyors and staff are committed to providing the industry with an accreditation program that helps organizations improve business operations, quality of patient care and services.

Administration for Community Living

ACL brings together the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging, the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the HHS Office on Disability to serve as the Federal agency responsible for increasing access to community supports, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities across the lifespan.

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine is the professional organization for physicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine. Membership is also open to nurses and other health care providers who are committed to improving the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening or serious conditions.

American Geriatrics Society

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a not-for-profit organization of over 6,000 health professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policy makers and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.

American Health Care Association

The American Health Care Association is a non-profit federation of affiliate state health organizations, together representing more than 11,000 non-profit and for-profit nursing facility, assisted living, developmentally-disabled, and subacute care providers that care for approximately one million elderly and disabled individuals each day.

American Society on Aging

The American Society on Aging is an association of diverse individuals bound by a common goal: to support the commitment and enhance the knowledge and skills of those who seek to improve the quality of life of older adults and their families.

Argentum

Argentum is the leading national trade association serving companies that own, operate, and support professionally managed senior living communities in the United States.

Association for Death Education and Counseling

The Thanatology Association®, is one of the oldest interdisciplinary organizations in the field of dying, death and bereavement. Its members include a wide array of mental and medical health personnel, educators, clergy, funeral directors and volunteers. ADEC offers numerous educational opportunities through its annual conference, courses and workshops.

Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland

The APM exists to promote the advancement and development of palliative medicine and is recognised as representing physicians at all grades who work in palliative medicine and those with an interest in the specialty.

Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine

ANZSPM is a specialty medical society that facilitates professional development and support for its members and promotes the practice of palliative medicine.

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

The CHPCA is the national voice for Hospice Palliative Care in Canada. Advancing and advocating for quality end-of-life/hospice palliative care in Canada, its work includes public policy, public education and awareness.

Center to Advance Palliative Care

The CAPC is the leading resource for palliative care program development and growth. Access essential palliative care tools, education, resources and training for health care professionals.

European Association for Palliative Care

The aim of the EAPC is to promote palliative care in Europe and to act as a focus for all of those who work, or have an interest, in the field of palliative care at the scientific, clinical and social levels.

Hospice Action Network

Our mission is to advocate, with one voice, for policies that ensure the best care for patients and families facing the end of life.

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association

HPNA is the collaborative and visionary professional hospice and palliative specialty nursing organization with evidence-based educational tools to assist members of the nursing team...

Hospice Foundation of America

HFA provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the U.S. health care system and the role of hospice within it.

Hospice New Zealand

The whole ethos of hospice and palliative care, as defined by the World Health Organisation is that it ‘intends neither to hasten nor postpone death’. This philosophy is the cornerstone of hospice care in New Zealand.

International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care

At IAHPC we are dedicated to the promotion and development of palliative care throughout the world.

Irish Association for Palliative Care

Established in 1993 as an all island body with the purpose of promoting palliative care nationally and internationally, the Irish Association for Palliative Care (IAPC) is a multi-disciplinary membership organisation.

Irish Hospice Foundation

The IHF was set up in 1986 to fund and help develop specific hospice services. Over time, our work has expanded to embrace the needs of people dying in hospitals, at home and in other care settings, as well as those who cannot easily access hospice care because of the nature of their illness.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Leading the way in special needs and elder law.

National Center on Elder Abuse

The NCEA is the place to turn to for up-to-date information regarding research, training, best practices, news and resources on elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. The Center provides information to policy makers, professionals in the elder justice field,and the public.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

The NHPCO is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.

National Hospice Foundation

We envision a world where everyone facing serious illness, death, and grief will experience the best that humankind can offer.

National Palliative Care Research Center

The mission of the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) is to improve care for patients with serious illness and the needs of their families by promoting palliative care research. In partnership with the Center to Advance Palliative Care, the NPCRC will rapidly translate these findings into clinical practice.

Palliative Care Australia

PCA is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end of life for all.

Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care

SPPC is an umbrella and representative organisation which, through a collaborative approach, supports and contributes to the development and strategic direction of palliative care in Scotland.

SeniorNet

SeniorNet's mission is to provide older adults (the underserved) education for and access to computer technologies to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.

Social Work in Hospice and Palliative Care Network

The first social work organization in end-of-life and palliative care… SWHPN was created to bridge the gaps in social work’s access to information, knowledge, education, training, and research in hospice and palliative care.