FCA Releases Five New Fact Sheets on Critical Caregiving Issues

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving has released five new fact sheets detailing critical issues in caregiving and long-term care in the U.S.

The new and updated publications join a comprehensive library of more than 60 FCA fact sheets that span the breadth of topics relating to family caregiving, from financial implications, to policy impacts, demographics, chronic health conditions, caregiver health and family dynamics.

All fact sheets are available FREE on the FCA website at www.caregiver.org.  

New titles:

• Selected Caregiver Statistics:  updated synopsis of a wide range of statistical and demographic studies of unpaid/family caregiving in the U.S. Topics include an examination of the numbers of caregivers, age, relationships between caregiver and care recipient, gender, race, duration of care, impact on employment, economic value, stress on the family, access to support, and more.

• Caregiving with Your Siblings: a description of the often complicated changes in family roles as the dynamics shift during care for ill or elderly parents. The fact sheet identifies strategies to reduce stress and conflict, responses to expectations, sharing the responsibilities and more. This fact sheet is also available in Spanish and Chinese.

• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this perplexing brain disorder. The Fact Sheet discusses how MCI differs from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias, when it is a precursor to AD, how to cope with memory loss and other challenges, key sources of support, recommended readings and more.

• Legal Issues for LGBT Caregivers: This updated fact sheet includes specific information for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as they deal with aging, caregiving and incapacity. Topics include: creating an estate plan, Durable Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, qualifications for Medicare or Medi-Cal, and the use of other legal tools such as a Living Will.

• Special Concerns of LGBT Caregivers: This new fact sheet further discusses the unique considerations of caregivers in the LGBT community. Topics include: care for domestic partners, friends or spouses; redefinitions of family; information on finding supportive health and service providers; discrimination; and maintaining well-being.

According to FCA Executive Director Kathleen Kelly, "The fact sheets are used by families, service providers, researchers, policy experts, reporters and legislative staffs, and in healthcare and academic settings as well. They were developed in response to needs we have seen in the community for clear, unbiased information about caregiving--a complex subject that touches nearly everyone and impacts public policy at all levels."

Family Caregiver Alliance and the National Center on Caregiving offer local and national programs to support and sustain the important work of families and friends caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions. A wealth of caregiving advice, resource listings, newsletters, fact sheets, research reports, policy updates, discussion groups, and the Family Care Navigator are available free on our website. Visit http://www.caregiver.org or call (800) 445-8106 for more information.

SOURCE Family Caregiver Alliance