One of the biggest obstacles in caregiving is recognizing that you ARE caregiving! Many times members of the LGBT community feel that what they're doing for their friend, loved one, parent, or relative is nothing more than what we do for each other when there's a need. And that's true – perhaps especially so in our community.

Running errands…picking up medications…paying bills…driving to the doctor…arranging home care…helping to dress…regardless of the task, it's all caregiving.

Often the assistance that's required gradually becomes more and more until you find yourself overwhelmed with the pressing demands from all the areas of your life – and now the person you're helping.

The benefit of knowing that you are a caregiver is that you become aware that you're not alone in the challenge of keeping your life in balance, and that there are services available that can help lighten the load.

SAGE has many services designed to support the special needs of caregivers – from individual supportive counseling, to groups, to supplemental and respite funds (along with a host of other activities and resources). 

In addition to these benefits, SAGE can help caregivers by recommending safe and LGBT-affirming long-term care options and identifying appropriate home-based care services. SAGE can also provide a caregiver with respite (providing an older adult with temporary home care or adult day care so a caregiver can take a break or attend to other commitments), a knowledgeable and supportive person to talk to regarding the pressures of caregiving, and a safe space for LGBT caregivers to share ideas, suggestions and support.

To learn more about these caregiver services, or to schedule an appointment with a SAGE counselor, please call SAGE's Department of Social Services at 212-741-2247 and ask to speak with our intake coordinator, or feel free to e-mail the Director of Social Services, Suzy Ritholz at sritholz@sageusa.org.

For a variety of multimedia resources for caregivers, visit the Caregiving Resources at the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, or check out the following links:

• Caregiver Resources from Medicare.gov
• Caregiver Resources from Medline Plus
• Caregivers of a Spouse or Partner
• Caring for the Caregiver
• Checklists and Forms for Caregivers
• National Caregivers Library
• National Family Caregiver Support Program
• Respite Care Locator
• Stress and Caregiving

Visit the SAGECAP (SAGE Caring and Preparing) page to learn more about SAGE's innovative caregiver program that works around the individual needs of its member caregivers and is accommodating to the time constraints that all caregivers face.