Wyoming Department of Health Offers Caregiver Support

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) wants state residents who are caregivers to know about a support program that is available to most state residents.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program is available in all Wyoming counties except Albany, Crook, Niobrara, Platte, Sublette, and Weston. It is designed to help adults who are caring for a loved one who is 60 or older, or caring for someone of any age who has Alzheimer's disease or related dementia conditions.

In Laramie and Sheridan counties, it also offers support for parents or other relatives who are at least 55 or older and are caring for children, grandchildren, and other relatives who are 17 or younger, or an adult under 60 who has a disability.

Jeanne Scheneman, who manages the program with the WDH, says one of the things it tries to do is give caregivers a temporary break from their responsibilities. Kim Deti of the department says that can mean finding someone to temporarily watch the person being cared for. The program also can put them in touch with support groups and services that the caregivers may not know about.

In many cases, it can also help delay or avoid having to place the person being cared for in a facility, instead of allowing them to remain with their family.

More information on the program is available by calling 1-800-442-2766, or by emailing wyaging@wyo.gov.

November is National Family Caregivers Month.