The University’s partnership with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) began in 2001 when the National Family Caregiver Support Program was implemented on Guam. Funded by the Older American’s Act through Congressional amendment in 2000, the program is intended to support family members who care for older family members and individuals having difficulty or are unable to care for themselves. As the State Agency administering NFSCP funds under the Older Americans Act, the Division of Senior Citizens of DPHSS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University to design and implement family caregiver services. The program is now under the Division of Social Work.
According to the national office the National Family Caregiver Support Program has 5 basic services required by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 and 2006. The five basic services are as follows:
1)provide information to caregivers about available services.
2)provide assistance to caregivers in gaining access to supportive services.
3)provide individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist
caregivers in the areas of health, nutrition, and financial literacy, and in making decisions and solving problems related to their caregiving roles.
4)provide respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their
caregiving responsibilities.
5)provide supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care
provided by caregivers.
One change brought in by the 2006 Amendments is the age of the caregiver. We service 3 groups of caregivers, these are as follows;
1) Caregivers caring for an individual who is 60 years and above;
2) Caregivers 55 years of age and over caring for a child 18 years and below; and
3) Caregivers 55 years of age and over caring for an adult 18-59 with a severe
disability.
Grant priority consideration is given to caregivers who are older individuals with greatest social need, and older individuals with greatest economic need; older individuals providing care to individuals with severe disabilities, including children with severe disabilities; caregivers who provide care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction; and grandparents or older individuals who are relative caregivers who provide care for children with severe disabilities.
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