Alabama Cares
ALABAMA CARES is a program designed to support family caregivers by providing training, assistance and resources to help them take care of their aging loved ones and themselves.
Caregivers play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence. However, even though caregiving is rewarding, it can have a negative impact on the health and well being of the caregiver. Caregiving has its greatest impact on the emotional health of caregivers, particularly the caregivers of persons with dementia and stroke who are at the highest risk for depression and anxiety disorders. Alabama Cares Program offers support for caregivers across the state by providing services through 5 basic areas:
Information: provides public education, caregiver and provider training, health fairs, newsletters, brochures, and audio visual/written caregiver information.
Assistance: provides outreach, case management, assessment, and information regarding resources.
Caregiver Education: Counseling/education to caregivers to assist them in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiver roles. This includes counseling to individuals, support groups, and caregiver training of individual caregivers and families.
Respite: provides temporary, substitute support of the care recipient to provide a brief period of relief/rest to the caregiver, help with personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, and skilled or unskilled services in the home.
Supplemental Services: provides through a limited basis, incontinence supplies, nutritional supplements, and assistive technology.
Eligibility Requirements:
Primary Caregivers of frail, older adults age 60 and older, or of any age if caring for those suffering with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia.
Grandparents/relative caregiver, age 55+, caring for children ages 18 and under or caring for children any age with a severe disability.
Priority consideration is given to:
Caregivers caring for those in greatest social and/or economic need
Older caregivers (age 60+)
Caregivers providing for those living in rural areas
Caregiver and care recipient with critical health needs
Department Contacts:
Amy Woodis – Cares Coordinator
avwoodis@nacolg.org
256-389-0554
Alabama Cares Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alabama Cares?
Alabama Cares is a caregiver-support program that provides information, education, assistance and resources to people caring for aging loved ones. The program is designed to support both the individual receiving care and the family caregiver.
Who is considered a family caregiver?
A family caregiver is a relative, friend or other unpaid individual who regularly helps an older adult or person with dementia. Caregiving may include help with personal care, meals, transportation, household responsibilities, medical appointments or other daily needs.
Who is eligible for Alabama Cares?
Eligible participants include:
Primary caregivers of frail adults age 60 or older
Caregivers of individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia
Grandparents or other relative caregivers age 55 or older who care for children age 18 or younger
Grandparents or relative caregivers age 55 or older who care for a person of any age with a severe disability
Contact NACOLG to confirm eligibility for your particular circumstances.
What caregiver services does Alabama Cares provide?
Alabama Cares provides support in five primary areas:
Information
Assistance
Caregiver education
Respite care
Supplemental services
Services are based on eligibility, assessed needs and available program resources.
What types of information are available for caregivers?
The program offers public education, caregiver and provider training, health fairs, newsletters, brochures and other written or audiovisual caregiver information.
Can Alabama Cares help me locate other community resources?
Yes. The program provides outreach, assessments, case management and information about available community resources. A coordinator can help caregivers understand their options and connect with appropriate programs.
Does Alabama Cares offer caregiver education or counseling?
Yes. Alabama Cares provides counseling and education to help caregivers make decisions, address challenges and solve problems related to their caregiving responsibilities.
Support may include:
Individual counseling
Caregiver support groups
Training for individual caregivers
Education for families
What is respite care?
Respite care provides temporary substitute support for the person receiving care, giving the regular caregiver a short period of rest or relief.
Depending on the person’s needs and available services, respite support may include personal care, homemaker assistance, adult day care or skilled or unskilled services in the home.
Can Alabama Cares help with incontinence supplies?
Limited supplemental services may be available, including incontinence supplies, nutritional supplements and assistive technology. These services are not guaranteed and depend on eligibility, assessed needs and available resources.
Does Alabama Cares help caregivers of people with dementia?
Yes. Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia may qualify regardless of the care recipient’s age.
The program recognizes that dementia caregiving can place significant emotional and physical demands on families and may provide education, support and respite resources.
Can grandparents caring for grandchildren receive assistance?
Yes. A grandparent or other relative caregiver age 55 or older may qualify when caring for a child age 18 or younger. They may also qualify when caring for an individual of any age who has a severe disability.
Who receives priority consideration?
Priority consideration is given to:
Caregivers and care recipients with the greatest social or economic needs
Older caregivers age 60 and above
Caregivers serving people who live in rural areas
Caregivers or care recipients with critical health needs
Priority consideration does not automatically guarantee a particular service.
Do I need to live with the person I care for?
Living arrangements and other requirements may depend on the service being requested. Contact the Alabama Cares coordinator to discuss your caregiving situation and determine which forms of assistance may be available.
Do I have to be a full-time caregiver to qualify?
Eligibility is based on the caregiving relationship, the care recipient’s needs and program guidelines. You do not need to decide for yourself whether your situation qualifies—contact NACOLG for an eligibility assessment.
Is there a cost for Alabama Cares services?
Costs may vary depending on the service and available funding. Contact the Alabama Cares coordinator for current information about program costs, contributions and eligibility.
What areas does NACOLG’s Alabama Cares Program serve?
NACOLG provides caregiver support throughout Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston counties.
This includes families looking for caregiver assistance near Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Russellville, Hamilton, Haleyville and other Northwest Alabama communities.
How do I apply for Alabama Cares assistance?
Contact the NACOLG Alabama Cares coordinator to discuss your caregiving situation. The coordinator can explain eligibility requirements, assess your needs and provide information about available services.