Family Caregiver Kit

Help For those Who Care For Others

Caring for someone with a chronic disease/disability means providing care over the long term.  The long term requires the caregiver to rethink care strategies…very different from the ones when a care receiver is recovering from an acute medical problem.  Over the course of a long term caregiving relationship caregivers face many obstacles that may affect the quality of care and dignity the care receiver deserves.  Family caregivers have found the Caregiver Kit to be a valuable resource to help them cope with and be successful in providing quality care for their loved ones.  The “Kit” was developed by Snohomish County; over 6,000 have been distributed since 2002.

The Family Caregiver Kit (705 KB) can be printed in Adobe PDF.

• Contents
• Advice for Family Caregivers ... from other Caregivers
• Caregiver Fatigue Timeline
• Caregiver Self-Assessment Questionnaire
• If Caring for an Elderly Person is New for You
• Caregiving: Getting Organized ... Developing a Plan
• Strategies for Finding the Help You Need
• Substitute Caregivers Form
• An Introduction to Long-Term Care Programs and Services
• Two Adult Day Health Programs serving Snohomish County
• Two Senior Adult Day Care/Respite Programs serving Snohomish County
• Drugs & Medication: Maximize the Benefits ... Minimize the Dangers
• Questions to Ask Your Doctor When You or Your Loved-One are Prescribed a Drug or Medication
• Creating an Optimal Health Team: Medical Professional, Your Loved-One, and You -- the Caregiver
• More Tips on Communicating with a Doctor
• Coping with Chronic Pain
• Home Safe Home
• When it's Time to Move to a Facility
• What To Look for In Licensed Facilities 
• Hospice Care: Comfort and Compassion 
• Nutrition and You
• Caregivers and Care Receivers
• Snohomish County Sheriff's Letter
• Helpful Consumer Hotlines and Websites
• Tips on Protecting Yourself from Con Artists
• Snohomish County Human Services

For more information on Family Caregiving go to the Programs and Information web page.

Questions?  Email John Peterson or call (425) 388-7307.