# Help, for carers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367 "2006-09-27T15:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/1 "2006-09-27T15:02:44Z")
Are there any societies or government backed groups that provide help and assistance for carers? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/2 "2006-09-27T15:18:05Z")
There are plenty of nonprofits. Look under “respite care.” For instance, [this site](http://www.helpguide.org/elder/respite_care.htm) is typical. ---
**Author:** ![Snowcarpet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowcarpet/32/257_2.png) [@Snowcarpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowcarpet)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/3 "2006-09-27T18:24:27Z")
**Bippy,** Try this one: National Family Caregivers Association > **[Home](https://www.caregiveraction.org/)** > > Caregiver Action Network is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of... [http://www.familycaregiving101.org/](http://www.familycaregiving101.org/) There are literally dozens of such organizations. Need a specific one? I can help. Or try to. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/4 "2006-09-27T18:46:20Z")
Are there more general help and advice groups, not just groups that will take over helping for a short while to allow the carer to get some rest? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/5 "2006-09-27T19:03:54Z")
Call your local department of Aging - they should be in the phone book under local government agencies. Tell them what you need and they should be able to help you find it. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/6 "2006-09-27T19:38:04Z")
This probably isn’t what you were asking for, but there’s also magazines and such that a lot of people seem to find very helpful. _Today’s Caregiver_ is one we get at the library. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/7 "2006-09-27T19:43:01Z")
I opened this thread to figure out if you had spelled careers wrong, or if you were talking about people who drive cars. I don’t think I’ve ever run across the word “carers” before. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/8 "2006-09-27T19:43:42Z")
Most cities and towns have a Council on Aging department, usually housed or associated with the area senior center. Some offer caregiver support groups, while others will have information on other groups in the geographical area. as **romansperson** said, your best bet would be to call them first – if they can’t directly help you, they can refer you. What is it exactly that you’re looking for, **Bippy**? My husband and I are caring for my mother, and I’m acquainted with what’s generally out there. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-for-carers/374367/9 "2006-09-27T20:34:43Z")
It is for a friend here at work who cares for her dad on weekends and seems to be suffering quite badly from related stress. Parially I’m looking for advice on what I should say to her, and partially looking for resources I could tell her about. Thanks guys.