By Thomas Hughes. Bay City News.
Listen to this note:
Santa Clara County is moving forward with a series of actions to support family caregivers in response to a recent county survey that found caregivers need more resources.
The county Board of Supervisors accepted staff recommendations and directed them to create ways to address the two main areas of concern for caregivers, which were the need for more information about caregiving and respite care options for caregivers.
County staff was tasked with establishing a working group to coordinate existing resources and compile a reliable caregiver information and referral list that will focus on the top 10 to 20 services caregivers indicated they need.
The task force will also create a referral registry for direct care workers that will include background checks on caregivers of older adults.
And the county plans to create a caregiver subsidy of between $500 and $1,200 to help pay for adult day care and give caregivers a break, according to Supervisor Joe Simitian’s office. The subsidy would launch in April if a final plan is approved.
A 2023 AARP scorecard ranked California 15th in the nation for support for family caregivers, knocking the state out of the category because it provides no tax credits to caregivers who often shoulder additional costs on top of their work.
The recommendations come in response to a study the county commissioned in August that found caregivers lack information and resources on how to begin providing care to someone. The study was requested by Supervisors Joe Simitian and Cindy Chavez.
“Caring for a loved one is a difficult responsibility for anyone, especially those who have had that task thrust upon them unexpectedly,” Simitian said.
“The recommendations in this study are a step in the right direction: providing the information that new caregivers need and, hopefully, simplifying a process that can be complex.”
The task force will define and distinguish the overlapping functions of the county's 211 hotline and the two Area Aging and Development Resource Connections, or ADRCs, which are nonprofit organizations certified by the state to provide their own information and resources.
The county will also enhance the role of its Senior Care Commission, which advocates for seniors and programs that will help them, tracks legislation and addresses concerns about well-being and safety.
Staff were asked to make additional recommendations on implementing the needs found in the survey and to provide a progress report by the end of the year.
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