Pet Services

SAS Partners With Caring For Eldery Family Members

The online support group for family caregivers, hosted by Barbara Halpern, past director of Elderly Security Programs and founder of the Coalition on Senior Safety, has recently been included as an additional caregiver resource from the Senior Approved Free Web Community. (Elderly Security Programs was part of The NYC Department for the Aging, Safe Streets Program)

Barbara Mascio, founder and president of Senior Approved Services (www.seniorsapprove.com) said, 'We were receiving multiple requests from our web visitors to include an online support group for the adult child providing care. We were thrilled when Barbara Halpern, host of Caring for Elderly Family Members (http://groups.msn.com/CaringforElderlyFamilyMembers/home.htm) approached us with the idea to work together.'

Ms. Halpern, an active advocate for both senior citizens and family caregivers had been searching for additional resources to enhance services at her active members only support group forum when she came across the Senior Approved Free Web Community. 'Both of our services have the same goals, to help the senior and the family caregiver. Utilizing the network of Certified Senior Approved Services is an extra added bonus, my members can feel quite comfortable reaching out and contracting with these services based on their proven record of quality care and service,' affirms Ms. Halpern.

More than 50 million people, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year.

Most family members readily jump in to help a loved one and will put their own lives on hold. Only 46 percent expect to be caregivers longer than two years. In fact the average length of time spent on caregiving is about eight years, with approximately one third of respondents providing care for 10 years or more. (Source: MetLife Juggling Act Study, Balancing Caregiving with Work and the Costs of Caregiving, Met Life Mature Market Institute, November 1999.)

Online support groups work well for the adult child who may have become isolated due to the demands of 24 x 7 care responsibilities. The support is available 24 hours a day seven days a week, thanks to the world wide web.

Family caregivers are welcome to join and become members through the Caring for Elderly Family Members support group. You are also welcome to visit Senior Approved Services for assistance. The web site offers a place to submit words of wisdom, a recipe contest (not just for food!), subscribe to a free monthly ezine and much more!

About the author: Founder of Senior Approved Services, a National Network of Products, Services, Resources Endorsed by Seniors (www.seniorsapprove.com)