(Graphical version of this page)
You are here: Children with Disabilities Home
> Advocacy and Support
> Family Caregiver Resources
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) estimates that more than 5 million Americans currently receive home care for both short- and long-term needs. This figure continues to grow because of advances in medical technology and the availability of supports for families to keep their family member with a disability at home. For families who have a child with a disability, providing home care by being a caregiver is often a permanent responsibility lasting anywhere from several years to a lifetime.
The emotional and physical effect on a caregiver can be overwhelming. Without help, the caregiver is prone to emotional burn-out which can lead to mental health problems, such as depression. There is also an increased risk of developing physical problems, such as strained muscles. Health problems also become an issue since caregivers tend to ignore their own health concerns. Listed below are resources to help caregivers find the support they need for their caregiving efforts.
The following is a list of links to other Web sites that provide information and resources for family caregivers. Some links are to documents created in Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and print PDF documents, you need to have Adobe® Reader®, a free software program, installed on your computer. Download Adobe® Reader®