6216 Upper Cass Frontage Road
Cass Lake, MN 56633

(218) 335-7112 Phone
(218) 766-9230 Cell
(866) 222-9429 Toll-free
(218) 335-8331 Fax

Caregivers, Are these scenarios familiar?

• Your grandfather is homebound after surgery and needs someone to grocery shop for them.
• Your spouse has a major medical setback and requires care.
• Your parent can no longer drive after medical diagnosis.
• Your neighbor is afraid to drive on icy roads and needs to get to a doctor appointment.

Let us help you…

If you help with these types of activities, you are one of thousands of Minnesota care givers. Care giving usually begins with simple everyday tasks, such as, cleaning and shopping for a friend, relative or neighbor. As that person becomes less functional, care giving becomes more intense and time consuming.
Providing for the needs of our at home elders requires a committed caregiver who will assist in meeting our elders essential needs, while at the same time balancing their own needs and home life.
Many of us will struggle with “juggling” several responsibilities, our own families, jobs and commitments. It is not easy and there is usually no clear-cut timeframe. For some, care giving may last a few weeks. For others, it may last for years.

Many family caregivers say they wish they had known more about how to provide care, what resources exist, how to get help for the family members or themselves, and what to do to make sure that their own quality of life is optimal. Your community is filled with people who are willing to help you!

Resources for Family Caregivers:

• Respite services provide you with time away from your care giving duties to take care of personal affairs, get some rest, or simply take a break. Respite care is limited.
• Information and assistance is available on group services, mass media, public education, information at community meetings, Health Fairs, Elder Meetings & other similar meetings, articles and notices in Tribal Newsletter, Radio & TV announcements.
• Assistance in gaining access to services needed within the Leech Lake Program or outside agencies will be available.
• Care giving education and training is provided by a variety of organizations and cover a variety of topics, such as how to provide hands-on care, medication management, stress reduction, practical communication skills, managing challenging behaviors, reducing depression, legal and financial issues.
• Support groups are provided by a variety of organizations and can help family caregivers learn to mange stress, share coping tips, gain emotional support and find community resources.

Supplemental Services may include home safety management.

The Leech Lake Care Giver program is funded by the Elderly Nutrition Program Title VI Grant assisting our Native American Elders and homebound with care giving services.