“According to The Senior Source Caregiver Support Program Director Kimberly Knight,
“Caregiving for older adults in your life usually starts slowly. Your dad can’t drive on long trips anymore, so he needs you to drive with him to the class reunion. You are only in your 40s or 50s and you are juggling your career, your kids, and your home. ‘It will be fine,’ you think, we can manage it all. Before you know it, you are in your 60s or 70s and your mom breaks her hip, or your husband forgets your son’s name and you realize you are a caregiver. You are overwhelmed and you have no idea where to start looking for help.
“The Caregiver Support Program is one of the many ways The Senior Source addresses the emotional and financial well-being of older adults and those who care for them. Each year, we regularly consult with more than 2,000 people of all ages who are caring for an aging loved one.
“Caregiving impacts every generation and every relationship. Yvonne was in her 40s when she moved her grandfather with Parkinson’s from Illinois to Dallas to live with her and her son. Eddie was in his 50s when he began visiting his mother in her memory care facility every day after work. In her 70s, Minnieetta cared for Juan, her husband of 50-years with dementia.
“When a caregiver calls us, we start with an individual care consultation. Sometimes, just hearing us say, ‘we understand how hard your job is,’ or ’you aren’t alone,’ can offer immeasurable relief. Our services are based on research and experience-based information we have honed from serving thousands of clients. In addition to one-on-one care consultation, we share myriad resources and provide educational programs such as Caregiving 101 seminars, end of life planning information, and safe home checklists. We host support groups in both English and Spanish, which offer connection and care for individuals experiencing isolation and stress. Because The Senior Source is the one-stop shop for aging, we are able to refer our caregivers to services within our organization, such as nursing home and assisted living facility guidance, insurance counseling, utility bill and benefits assistance, and frauds and scams prevention.
“We love nothing better than when a caregiver tells us they found the joy in spending time with their loved one again. They are relaxed, healthy, and socially connected.
“Your North Texas Giving Day contribution enriches the lives of older adults and their caregivers, both through this program and among the 25,000 individuals The Senior Source serves annually.
“On this one day to give, you can make years of impact with your support of The Senior Source.”
* Graphics/photos provided by The Senior Source
Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day helps build awareness and support for nonprofits like nothing else. In 2021, $66 million was raised through 103,000 donors benefiting over 3,300 local nonprofits, bringing the 13-year total to over $441 million for our community. NTx Giving Day is the largest community-wide giving event in the nation.
On Thursday, September 22, support The Senior Source by linking here and spreading the word. #NTxGivingDay