In this section, we provide information on women's roles as caregivers for children, elderly persons, and for patients. We highlight research on caregiving and resources available to assist the caregiver.See also Family and Caregiving in Illinois and Family and Caregiving in Chicago.
ContentsChild Care |
Careguide
http://www.careguide.com
CareGuide is a care management company dedicated to helping people at every stage of the aging process lead more comfortable, secure and independent lives. Through our national network of care managers, toll-free Support Center and Web site, CareGuide provides families with everything they need to assess, plan, manage and monitor the best care for their loved ones. The site is divided into eldercare and child care. It has some advocacy, but is mainly geared as a resource guide. Childcare topics include: Home, Finding Care, Making Care Work, Working Parents, Store
Child care and pre-K education from Digest of Education Statistics, 1997 [data from the Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics]. Not disaggregated by gender. See report under the heading of Elementary and Secondary Education at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/d970002.html. See tables at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/listtables.html including:
- Enrollment of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children in preprimary programs, by level and control of program and by attendance status: October 1965 to October 1996
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/d97t046.html
- Children of prekindergarten through second grade age, by enrollment status, maternal characteristics, and household income: 1991, 1993, and 1995
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/d97t047.html
- Percent of public school kindergarten teachers indicating the importance of various factors for kindergarten readiness: Spring 1993
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/d97t048.html
- Child care arrangements of preschool children, by age and household characteristics: 1991 and 1995
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/d97t049.html
- Participation of public kindergarten children in selected activities 5 days a week, by length and size of class and teacher preparation: Spring 1993
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/digest97/d97t050.html
Children's Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org
The Children's Defense Fund is a non-profit advocacy group at the national level for all children's issues. It addresses issues such as children's health, child care, child abuse, and education. Publications include fact sheets on child care, early education, prekindergarten, guide to child and maternal health, among others. The site also offers state profiles on measures such as infant mortality, low birth weight, prenatal care, Medicaid, SSI program, child care, etc. There are links to many sites including state government and county government sites. Sources of all data is offered.
National Child Care Information Center
http://www.nccic.org
The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) is a national resource that links information and people to complement, enhance, and promote the child care delivery system, working to ensure that all children and families have access to high-quality comprehensive services. The NCCIC project is supported by the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The link offers: information on a wide range of child care topics, a child care technical assistance network, internet links, publications, a child care bulletin, a leadership forum, state profiles, state RFPs.
National School Age Care Alliance
http://www.nsaca.org
NSACA is the only national membership organization representing the entire array of public, private, and community-based providers of after school programs. NSACA has over 8,000 members and thirty-five affiliated state organizations. NSACA sponsors a national conference for over 2,000 practitioners and
advocates. NSACA promotes national standards of quality school-age care for children and youth 5 - 14 years old, and grants accreditation to programs meeting the standards. NSACA is headquartered in Boston and has a public policy liaison located in Washington, D.C. A list of policy papers is available as well as links to a wide varity of relevant organizations.
The Parenting Resource Center on the Web
http://www.parentsplace.com
Includes the following topics:
- What to look for in a childcare provider
- Legal information regarding childcare in the US
- Information for daycare providers and those thinking about starting a daycare facility
- Links to national childcare providers and equipment and supplies for providers
AgeNet
http://www.agenet.com
AgeNet, Inc. operates a comprehensive, national eldercare network to meet the specific needs of the fast growing aging population and their adult caregiving children. This eldercare network brings together suppliers of eldercare products and services with businesses such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health care providers, health systems, and organizations or companies with employee assistance programs. It acts as an Information and referral network seeking to bridge distance between aging parents and adult children. There is lot of information about care giving issues but no statistics, research or policy papers. Headings include: About AgeNet, Strategic Business Opportunities, AgeNet Solutions. Search-topics covered include: Senior health, Geriatric drugs, Legal, Insurance, Helpful products, Caregiver support, Caregiver tips, Caregiver resources, Chat, Message Boards.American Association of Retired People
http://www.aarp.org
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people 50 and over. AARP provides information and resources; advocates on legislative, consumer, and legal issues; assists members to serve their communities; and offers a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for its members. These benefits include AARP Webplace at www.aarp.org, Modern Maturity and My Generation magazines, and the monthly AARP Bulletin. Active in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP celebrates the attitude that age is just a number and life is what you make it. AARP takes positions on a whole host of public policy issues. Headings on the website include: What's New, Search, Join/Renew, Contact Us, My AARP, About AARP, Computer Guide, Health and Wellness, Wellness ,Caregiving (includes some research articles), Nursing homes, Legislative health care issues, Legislative issues, Life Transitions, Money and work, Research and Reference, The Volunteer Experience
American Society on Aging
http://www.asaging.org
Professionals throughout the country rely on the American Society on Aging to keep them on the cutting edge in an aging society. Through renowned educational programs, publications and information and training resources, ASA members tap into the knowledge of the largest network of professionals in the field. There is no gender angle, but a lot about care giving issues especially in the Policy Papers section. Headings include: About American Society on Aging, Conferences and Training, Publications, Aging Today, Critical Issues in Aging, Generations, Newsletters, Policy Papers, American Society on Aging Learning Centers, Members Only, National and State Organizations, Search the Site, Job Bank, Member Sites, Events Calendar, Visit the ASA Store, Join ASACareguide
http://www.careguide.com
CareGuide is a care management company dedicated to helping people at every stage of the aging process lead more comfortable, secure and independent lives. Through our national network of care managers, toll-free Support Center and Web site, CareGuide provides families with everything they need to assess, plan, manage and monitor the best care for their loved ones. The site is divided into eldercare and child care. It has some advocacy, but is mainly geared as a resource guide. Eldercare topics include: Home, Finding Care, Paying for Care, Legal Planning, Daily Living, Community and Support, Resource Center
Citizens for Long Term Care
http://www.citizensforltc.org
Headed by former senator David Durenberger, Citizens for Long Term care aims to compel public and private policy leaders to commit to reform our nation's system financing access to and delivery of long term care services for the nation's aging and disability communities. There is a good section on women as elderly and as caregivers which addresses how women are disproportionately affected by long term care issues. The site is a good source for cite studies from other organizations. Headings include: About Us, Principles, Issues, Overview-long term care financing, Baby Boomers, Medicaid, People with Disabilities, Assisted Living, Caregivers, Women
Family Care Research Program
http://www.healthteam.msu.edu/fcrp
Michigan State University, B427 West Fee Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, 517-353-0306
The Family Care Research Program is a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort of faculty from the Michigan State University Colleges of Nursing and Human Medicine and the Department of Family Practice. This site includes links to many research findings on women caring for elderly relatives. This is a highly recommended source of information and includes many statements with policy implications.Family Caregiver Alliance
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
http://www.caregiver.org
The Family Caregiver Alliance is a informational resource on long-term care. Founded in 1977, it is the first community-based non-profit organization to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. Headings include: Resource Center, Care and Services, Work/Eldercare, On-Line Services, Ask FCA, Clearinghouse, Diagnoses, Statistics, Research, Fact Sheets, News Bureau, Interview, Public Policy, Legislative Update, Advocacy Tips, About FCA.On this website you'll find specialized information on Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, ALS and other disorders and long-term care concerns.
http://www.n4a.org
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) is the umbrella organization for 655 area agencies on aging (AAAs) and more than 230 Title VI Native American aging programs in the U.S. Through its presence in Washington, D.C., N4A advocates on behalf of the local aging agencies to ensure that needed resources and support services are available to older Americans. The fundamental mission of the AAAs and Title VI programs is to provide services which make it possible for older individuals to remain in their home, thereby preserving their independence and dignity. These agencies coordinate and support a wide range of home-based and community-based services, including information and referral, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, employment services, senior centers, adult day care and a long-term care ombudsman program.National Center on Women and Aging
http://www.heller.brandeis.edu/national/ind.html
The mission of the National Center on Women and Aging is to focus national attention on the special concerns of women as they age, to develop solutions and strategies for dealing with these concerns, and to reach out to women and organizations across the country, promoting the changes necessary to improve older women's lives. The center serves to empower women through community education, learn about midlife and older women's concerns through research and improve the lives of midlife and older women through policy analysis. The Center's activities are designed to promote security, health, and dignity of women in their later years. Currently, the focus is on confronting challenges for women as they age such as income security, health issues and care giving. Some research topics include working caregivers, the findings of national women's health study, the impact on women of increasing Medicare eligibility, privatization of social security, etc.
National Institute on Aging and Administration on Aging
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov
The National Institute on Aging and Administration on Aging is a clearinghouse on abuse and neglect of elderly. The institute conducts training and research studies and the website can be searched for resources and provides a directory with a large number of links for older people. Headings in a very extensive Table of Contents include: About AoA, Eldercare Locater, Caregiver Resources, Health Care Anti-Fraud Initiative, Elder Abuse Prevention, Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Researchers and Students, International Activities, etc.
Caregiving Demands on Society
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/rin/2000rpt/ch8/sld101.htm
Source: National Family Caregivers Association Member Survey 1997; and Stone et al., Gerontologist, Vol. 27, pp. 616-626 (1987).Social Policy Action Network
http://www.span-online.org
The Social Policy Action Network develops effective social policy by transforming the
findings of research and the insights of front-line practitioners into concrete action
agendas for policymakers. SPAN then crafts strategies to build public will for these
policy ideas, providing clear messages for the public and compelling stories for the
newsmedia. SPAN focuses on issues of the nation's social policy agenda, including welfare reform, fatherhood, teen pregnancy and parenting, child welfare, and early childhood education and care.USDOJ: Americans with Disabilities Act Homepage
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
US Department of Justice home page for national information on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Social Security Administration: SSI
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html
Social Security Administration factsheet explaining SSI benefits.
Date Last Updated: 5/6/02