Nationwide, there are over 40 million adult caregivers. One in four spend 21 or more hours a week providing care to their loved one, and one in six are employed while providing that care.
One in every four Idahoans is a family caregiver, providing critical, ongoing responsibilities for their loved ones. Typically this care involves overseeing the health and well-being of parents, siblings, spouses, children or grandchildren with physical or emotional disabilities or chronic illnesses. These caregivers do this work out of love, respect and necessity. The role of caregiver is generally more than a full-time job and is most often unpaid and undervalued.
The Idaho Caregiver Alliance, housed with Boise State University’s School of Public and Population Health, is dedicated to providing a responsive circle of support to these unsung heroes — the caregivers who wear many, often too many, hats. Established in 2012, the Idaho Caregiver Alliance continues to expand, engaging over 1,000 individuals and organizations, including individual family caregivers, nonprofits, healthcare providers, government agencies and insurers.
The Idaho Caregiver Alliance serves as the collective voice, convener, and catalyst for advancing support for unpaid family caregivers. By recognizing and integrating caregivers into the systems they interact with, outcomes improve, and families are better equipped to thrive.
Funding Critical Support
The Idaho Community Foundation’s Forever Idaho Regional Grant Program recently granted the Idaho Caregiver Alliance $2,500 in funding to increase their support and outreach to family caregivers in South Central Idaho.
Providing further caregiver support in South Central Idaho is critical, says ICA Program Manager Sheila Weaver.
Last year, Weaver connected with an overwhelmed Elmore County caregiver who — like many other caregivers — manages multiple caregiving responsibilities while facing financial and personal challenges. The ICA team provided crucial support and connected the caregiver with vital resources the caregiver hadn’t known existed.
Weaver knew that expanding the ICA’s outreach in the South Central Idaho area could positively affect this community member again in the future and so many more. This new funding, she says, will help do just that.
“We are committed to expanding our outreach to ensure that more South Central Idaho caregivers receive the support they need early on, preventing crises before they occur,” Weaver said.
The Idaho Community Foundation — which connects Idahoans to a generous statewide network through the power of collective giving — aims to strengthen local programming such as the Idaho Caregiver Alliance across Idaho.
Meeting Communities Where They Are
One significant need in South Central Idaho, Weaver said, is that many caregivers in the area care for more than one person. In rural communities, many caregivers struggle with access to caregiver resources, housing and transportation and struggle with their own health issues.
“This funding will allow the Idaho Caregiver Alliance (ICA) and Family Caregiver Navigator (FCN) to expand its outreach, connect caregivers with vital resources earlier, and prevent crises through increased capacity and targeted efforts, including tailored support for rural caregivers.
One of the bigger obstacles in this work, Weaver says, is the lack of awareness of support systems available to community members. The Idaho Caregiver Alliance and its Family Caregiver Navigator Program is determined to change that.
“The ultimate goal is to empower caregivers, reduce their burdens, and strengthen Idaho’s communities by providing holistic, culturally responsive support,” Weaver said.
This most recent grant funding contributes to the ICA’s mission of serving as the “voice, convener and catalyst” for the support of unpaid family caregivers across the lifespan.
Students from the College of Health Sciences Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work programs also take part in the ICA’s mission to connect communities with their resources. Weaver says the exceptional students working with the ICA play a key role in strengthening connections within rural communities, identifying vital resources for caregivers and delivering meaningful support to those in need.
“Through this support, the Family Caregiver Navigator enhances caregiver access to essential services, bolstering their ability to care for Idahoans and fostering a healthier, more resilient community,” Weaver said.
One means of recognizing and assisting caregivers across the state is the annual Family Caregiver Conference on Saturday, February 22.
The virtual conference will focus on “Power of Care: Strength in Community.” Donna Butts, executive director of Generations Unite, whose mission is to improve the lives of children, youth and older adults through intergenerational collaboration, public policies and programs for the enduring benefit of all, will be the keynote speaker.
Learn more and register on the Idaho Caregiver Alliance website.