Providing care for a loved one is a vital and challenging role that many people fill throughout Kentucky.  As our population ages, the type of assistance needed ranges from completing household tasks to long term medical care.  Caregivers can feel stress from managing a myriad of responsibilities and lacking knowledge of available resources.  

In response to the need for education in this area, the Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent taught the Prepare to Care program in the Lincoln Trail Area as a Homemaker club leader lesson.   The counties in this area are Washington, Marion, Larue, Nelson, Hardin, Breckinridge, Meade, and Grayson. The Prepare to Care program designed by AARP highlights five key steps: starting the conversation, forming your team, making a plan, finding support, and caring for yourself.  A total of thirty-seven participants attended the programs.  In program evaluations, all participants indicated that the program increased their understanding of how the choices they make today will affect their health and well-being in the future. Ninety-seven percent indicated that their participation helped them to understand the importance of preparing for caregiving and increased their understanding of how to start a caregiving conversation.  

A six month follow up evaluation was mailed to all participants.  Seventeen completed evaluations were returned.  Thirteen participants indicated that they have had discussions about caregiving with their family since participating in the program and that they feel prepared to be a caregiver.  Actions that participants have taken since the program include making a list of financial investments and records, notifying family members about where information is kept, helping caregivers to have time for themselves, and placing a living will on file.  Extension will continue to serve as a reliable resource for caregivers and families.