Caregiving
- By Claire Cameron
- Mar 5, 2025
Return to the topics list at any time by clicking Resources on the left-hand menu.
Balance programs
MaineHealth Fall Prevention | A Matter of Balance | https://www.mainehealth.org/care-services/older-adult-care-geriatric-medicine/fall-prevention-matter-balance
National Council on Aging (NCOA) Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs | https://www.ncoa.org/article/evidence-based-falls-prevention-programs/
Home safety tips
https://www.n4a.org/files/PreventingFalls.pdf
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Administration on Aging provide checklists to make your home safer. Contact the Elder Locator and Rebuilding Together affiliate to find local community resources including assistance for low-income adults to modify their living space.
Falls prevention tips
https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides fall prevention information and educational materials for patients that can benefit you as well.
https://www.cdc.gov
In the search box in the upper right-hand corner, type “check for safety” to find the link to the Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist PDF. This checklist is easy to use to check if you have any fall hazards at home.
https://medlineplus.gov/
This is a website that offers trustworthy health information. You can find more information about fall prevention by typing “fall prevention” in the search box in the upper right-hand corner.
Managing caregiver emotion supports and safety
https://www.caregiver.va.gov
The VA Caregiver Support website provides caregiver support toolbox to help manage emotion and physical burden.
Medical alert systems
http://www.aarp.org
AARP offers specific tips for choosing the right medical alert system. Search for “Medical Alert” using the search box in the upper right-hand corner on the home page.
Nutrition
https://www.eatright.org/
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/coping/nutrition/benefits.html
American Cancer Society
https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition
American Diabetes Association
https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/eating-healthy
American Diabetes Association Create My Plate
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating
American Heart Association
https://www.cspinet.org
Center for Science in the Public Interest.
https://www.nal.usda.gov/programs/fnic
Food and Nutrition Information Center
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/
Harvard School of Public Health
https://www.foodinsight.org
International Food Information Council Foundation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/basics/nutrition-basics/hlv-20049477
Mayo Clinic, “Nutrition and Healthy Eating"
https://universityhealthnews.com/health-publications/
University Health News
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/basic-nutrition/online-tools
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Online nutrition tools
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/cooking.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Heart Healthy Home Cooking, African American Style.”
https://www.myplate.gov/
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.caregiver.va.gov/
Veterans Administration Caregiver Support
https://www.nutrition.va.gov/
Nutrition and Health information
Getting and Finding Help
AgingCare – https://www.agingcare.com
CaringBridge - http://www.caringbridge.org/
Caring.com - https://www.caring.com
National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus (tutorial for evaluating internet health information) - https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/evaluatinghealthinformation.html
PatientsLikeMe - https://www.patientslikeme.com/
Psych Central - https://www.psychcentral.com/
QuackWatch: Your Guide to Quackery, Health Fraud, and Intelligent Decisions - https://www.quackwatch.org/
Veterans Administration Caregiver Support page: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/
Planning for the Future
https://caringcommunity.org/self-help/compendiumsguides/growth-house/
Caring Community
Specific programs
http://www.mainehealth.org/mob
A Matter of Balance addresses fear of falling and emphasizes practical coping strategies to reduce fear of falling in an eight-session program.
https://www.steppingon.com/
Stepping On is a Seven-week program designed for people who are living at home and have experienced a fall or are concerned about falling.
http://www.sailfitness.org/
Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) is a strength, balance, and group fitness program taught three times per week on an ongoing basis. Balance education tips are incorporated into the program.
http://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/programs/tai-chi-for-arthritis/
Tai Chi for Arthritis is a 16-session program held once or twice weekly for people with arthritis or pain to reduce fall risk.
https://tjqmbb.org/
Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance is a 24-week program held twice weekly. A DVD is available for home practice.
http://www.med.unc.edu/aging/cgec/exercise-program
The Otago Exercise program is an individualized program often taught by a physical therapist that consists of 17 leg muscle strengthening and balance exercises to prevent falls. Walking and flexibility exercises are part of the program.
Videos
A male caregiver with Parkinson's talking about being a caregiver for his Mother.
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- Dance for PD » Winter Stars: Reading and Conversation
Dance for PD is proud to share this intimate conversation with Dave Iverson – familiar to many in our extended global family as the writer and director of the documentary Capturing Grace – as he discusses his highly-anticipated new memoir Winter Stars, the intimate story of an elderly mom, an aging son, and life’s final journey. This conversation took place live on January 19, 2021.
