One-on-one mentorship and support for family caregivers
Caring for an aging loved one or a loved one with a disability can be hard. Challenges can seem endless and choices complex. It can be a hard journey, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Our Caregiver Coaching program will match you with a compassionate coach who can help you find help, sort through choices and be a listening ear when you need it.
If you’re ready to jump in and get matched with a coach fill out our application.
It all starts with a conversation. When you contact us, we’ll schedule a time for a one-on-one call. We’ll ask some questions and find out more about you, the person you care for, your caregiving situation, and the kind of support you need. The call usually takes about 15-20 minutes, and we’ll work to make sure it’s at a time that’s best for you.
Once we’ve learned a little more about you and what you need, we’ll work on matching you with the volunteer that will best fit your personality and situation. We want to be sure you are matched with someone you’re comfortable talking to and sharing with. It usually takes less than 48-hours to get connected with one of our volunteer coaches.
Your coach will reach out to you to set up a time to talk. The coaching relationship will look different for each caregiver and coach, and your relationship-will depend on your needs. You and your coach will work together to figure out how often you meet and how you communicate. You can talk with your coach as often or as little as you’d like. It’s up to you! If you don’t love your initial coach, that’s okay too. We will work to find someone you click with to help you on your caregiving journey.
For more information on caregiver coaching or to begin the process of being matched with a coach, please contact the program coordinator by filling out the contact form below or call us at (800) 852-7795. You can also visit our FAQs or download a flyer.
Kwan-Ling was drawn to volunteering in the program by her experience caring for friends and members of her own family, including her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. Kwan-Ling says her mother taught her to “help others when you can,” and volunteering for this program is one way to honor her ...
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Kwan-Ling was drawn to volunteering in the program by her experience caring for friends and members of her own family, including her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. Kwan-Ling says her mother taught her to “help others when you can,” and volunteering for this program is one way to honor her mother’s legacy. She believes having been a caregiver herself helps her empathize with both caregivers and care recipients. She sees herself as a companion on the journey and feels that establishing that one-on-one relationship means she can be a constant in the ever-changing and stressful world of the caregiver. “The caregiver's journey will not go on forever, the stress will be over some day,” she says. “But love never fails and it remains. Together we can do it.”
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Margy recently retired after 44 years as an RN. During her career, one of the roles she found most rewarding was working with family members who were caring for patients with complex conditions—helping them find help and connect with resources. She views caregivers as “unsung heroes” and worries that they ...
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Margy recently retired after 44 years as an RN. During her career, one of the roles she found most rewarding was working with family members who were caring for patients with complex conditions—helping them find help and connect with resources. She views caregivers as “unsung heroes” and worries that they don’t have enough support or recognition. Margy sees her role as a listener and conduit to accurate information and believes the caregiver/coach relationship works best when there is honesty, respect, and careful listening. What does she think caregivers need to know most? “Taking care of yourself should be a priority. Don’t put yourself last. Only when you are okay can you truly help your loved one.”
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Ready to take the next step? Fill out our confidential volunteer application. After completing, a AAA 1-B representative will reach out to you to go over next steps. Want to talk to someone first? Email coaching@aaa1b.org to find out more.
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