As our average life expectancy creeps ever upward, the need for family members to step in and take care of aging loved ones will only increase. In the past year, approximately 34.2 million Americans provided unpaid care to an older adult, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.
Reasons for intervention vary — Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, surgery, injuries sustained in a fall — and caregivers are equally diverse — sons, daughters, spouses, even friends and neighbors. Regardless of the circumstances, the goal is often the same: to provide a loved one with a comfortable, caring environment.
Whether researching options for your own next step in life or searching for a living arrangement for your parents, caregiving is a complicated endeavor and holds a series of difficult decisions. Following are profiles of local resources to help you navigate the waters of providing for your loved ones at any stage.
Colonel Glenn Healthcare and Rehab
Caregiver’s Guide Spotlights
Alzheimer’s Arkansas | CareLink | Evergreen Living Center
Presbyterian Village | Senior Placement Services of Arkansas
UAMS Schmieding Home Caregiver Training Program