Share the Care

Respite Care provided to 413 clients needing to be safe and secure during the day while the caregiver continues with their daily lives. Care is provided in licensed adult day Care centers in the community open five days per week, staffed by day Care directors, assistant directors, nurses and program aides.

the caregiver forum is an event for caregivers that are caring for loved ones in their home. the event gives the caregivers a chance to get inspired, entertained, and relaxed. the forum consists of two exciting days devoted entirely to caregivers. It gives the caregivers an opportunity to renew themselves, rebuild, purpose and re-motivate their spirit. A nominal fee is charged to caregivers (full scholarships are available for those who qualify) and the overnight respite Care for their elderly loved ones is also free or for a nominal amount. the speakers and breakout sessions allow caregivers to participate and learn how to relieve stress,and how to better take Care of themselves. the breakout sessions consist of advocacy academy, take charge of your caregiving, expand your horizons through leisure exploration, poetry for a quality day,laughter for stress relief, your life in words, techniques of acupuncture and chinese medicine for handling stress and disease, support groups, and many more activities. the forum also gives the caregivers a chance to create a peer support system and develop long term relationships with other caregivers. Training and support is also provided to individuals and families in the home and during a support group format. This type of training encourages families and individuals to join support groups, which are informal and facilitated for the caregiver. These groups are held monthly at Share the Care administrative office.

Respite services are designed as relief for the primary caregiver of a functionally impaired older person for a specified period of time. All services are carried out in the home. Our goal is to provide service on a regular basis to provide ongoing, planned respite for the caregiver. Respite workers are specially trained in dealing with memory-impaired individuals, frail elderly, and the behaviors they exhibit. the respite service is a companion-sitter type of service, and should not be confused with home health service. Stc provided 26,845 hours of in-home respite to 236 clients in orange and seminole counties.

Other achievements include: 3,904 hours of case management 9,507 hours of counseling 920 hours of screening and assessments other activities include: education and training for caregivers, in home chores, in home medical equipment, and a health promotion program. Telephone reassurance through 7,975 calls made to caregivers during the covid-19 pandemic to provide psychological reassurance and implement special or emergency assistance. Mental health and wellness webinars have been offered continuously. Support groups have been offered in a zoom format and have doubled in frequency and attendance. Stc has implemented a web-based platform to help families provide high quality Care for their loved ones. the carevirtue platform is an evidence- informed technology that helps family caregivers combat social isolation by activating Care networks and connecting caregivers to important local services (like those offered by Share the Care). the platform was built by family caregivers, for family caregivers.