This program was designed as the first effort of Caring Partners, a small group of volunteers employed by the Wilmington and Newark Senior Centers and the University of Delaware's School of Nursing, who are concerned with the rising needs of the growing number of Delaware caregivers. Research data from community leaders and agencies serving families who provide care to ill and/or aging adults, and from family caregivers - spouses, partners, siblings, sons and daughters - indicated major needs for middle-aged husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters, who face many sources of family, employment, and caregiving stress. Fewer financial, educational, support and community resources are available for the group of caregivers under age 60. Greater attention to the early phase of caregiving can help families plan ahead, get organized, and find the help they need so that the stress of caregiving can be eased and prevented.

This program is unique in its approach - a mutual focus on the caring relationship of the people giving and receiving care - which hopefully, acknowledges the challenges of each participant to maintain the highest levels of respect, health, and independence. Research on caregiving has been increasing steadily as has the number of available resources of all kinds. One important aim of this program is to sift through what is available and applicable, and to present you with some of the most helpful information, resources and services and ways to access them. Delaware resources and services are highlighted and multiple contact methods - phone, email, and mail - are provided. Obviously, this program remains a work in progress.

The 2004 AARP study, Caregiving in the U.S.: Spotlight on Delaware states that (1) 58% of Delaware's 130,000 unpaid family caregivers of adults are women, as are 62% of those receiving care, (2) the average age of caregivers is 44 years old and only 32% are older than 50, (3) 33% hold college degrees and another 30% have some college education, (4) 67% of caregivers are employed, and (5) 40% of caregivers have been providing care for less than a year. This information influenced the goals and style of the first product of Caring Partners' efforts, the Preparing for Caring Program. Plans are in progress to adapt this program for other subgroups of Delaware caregivers and to develop additional resources targeted to the needs of other caregivers. This program serves as a link with the many other aspects of caregiving support within the Caring Partners network.

One problem that keeps families from seeking help and using resources is that people do not think of themselves as "caregivers" until their loved one is very dependent on them. They equate caregiving with caring and loving integral to their roles and responsibilities as wives, husbands, sons, daughters and partners. The terms, "carers" and "partners", might better reflect the roles and feelings of those helping loved ones with their health needs. "Well spouses" is a more commonly accepted term for caregiving wives and husbands - yet the term, "well" is often debatable. Again, early planning and access to resources are most useful for the many "new" Delaware caregivers.

One other note - caring for an adult brother or sister, grandparent or friend is not specifically addressed, but most of the information in this program is applicable to these close caring relationships. The distinctive nature of these caregiving partnerships should be recognized and addressed as well.

The Goals of the Preparing for Caring Program are:

• To prepare middle-aged families dealing with advancing chronic illness to anticipate and meet future caregiving needs.
• To assist the family member(s) in performing appraisals of their current and future needs, and resources.
• To strengthen close relationships between the ill or aging family member and his/her spouse, adult children, siblings and/ or close friends.
• To improve knowledge of strategies known to benefit caregiver health and to prevent/reduce caregiver strain, burden, morbidity and mortality.

These goals reflect the Caring Partners Goals as described in the "Caring Partners Program"brochure. This brochure provides an overview of the initiatives of Caring Partners and gives important contact information for individualized guidance and referrals.

The Components of the Preparing for Caring Program

I. Introductory Preparing for Caring Booklet
This informational booklet gets you started. "Caring for Your Partner" and "Caring for your Parent" resources can be downloaded from the Preparing for Caring Program menu at the Caring Partners website homepage, http://www.CaringPartnersDE.org. Both versions address middle-age caregivers, their aging and/or ill loved ones and their families.

II. Personalized Caring Partners Support and Referral Network Services
Get connected with Caring Partners by sending the Coordinator an email from homepage of the website. Refer to the information in the "Caring Partners Program" brochure to make an appointment (in-person or telephone) to discuss anticipated needs for informational and support group resources, as well as referrals to community services.

III. Entry into Preparing for Caring Program
You may access the informational modules of the program by going to the Caring Partners website homepage, http://www.CaringPartnersDE.org, and selecting any of the 6 modules to read and/or print. If you do not have access to a computer, talk with the Caring Partners Coordinator about receiving the information.

Preparing for Caring Program Content Modules

1. Planning for Your Caring Partnership ... Where to Start
2. Responding to a Health Crisis ... Quickstart for the Unexpecting Caregiver.
3. Promoting Caregiver Health ... Preventing Caregiver Stress
4. Assessing the Impact of Illness ... the Care Receiver and Caregiver
5. Creating a Safe and Caring Environment ... Protecting Safety and Relationships
6. Considering the Best Care Options ... From Home Care to Nursing Home

Each of these modules is presented in four sections that focus on the Preparing for Caring Program goals in the following 4 subsections.

• Where are WE? Where might we be going?
  This section provides introductory information to help you and your family get started and plan ahead.

• What will we need to get there? Taking an Inventory ... What do we have and what to we need to do?
  Checklists and ideas in this section are designed to assist you in identifying current and future needs as well as relevant personal and community resources.

• How will we do it? The Power of Pulling Together
  This section addresses, "What can we do to strengthen our caregiver-care receiver relationship and our 'caring partnerships' with close friends, family members, and community agencies?"

• What can I do to preserve my health?
  This section provides information that may benefit your health by reducing caregiver strain, burden, morbidity and mortality.