Caregivers are found in every city and town around the world, caring for loved ones of all ages with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Family, friends, or neighbors may care for an aging parent, a sibling with mental illness, or a child or spouse with a disability. Caregivers may care for their loved one full-time, part-time, or long distance.
According to the Morris County Division on Aging, Disabilities, and Veterans Services, there are over 50,000 caregivers in Morris County.
While each caregiving situation is unique, there are certain issues all caregivers share: the need for current information, easy access to resources, and available support.
United Way of Morris County convened the Caregivers Coalition of Morris County in January 2005 in response to the increasing needs of caregivers in our community, and provides ongoing administrative support. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the area.
"It is important for caregivers to recognize that they are not alone, to learn that caregiving is more than a one person job, and to see that taking care of themselves is vital to their loved ones wellbeing."
– The National Family Caregivers Association
Mission
The mission of the Caregivers Coalition of Morris County is to promote knowledge of, sensitivity to, and action around caregiving issues.
Goals
The goals of the Caregivers Coalition of Morris County are:
- To strengthen services and resources to caregivers in Morris County.
- To improve access to information about caregiving, and about available and appropriate services.
- To identify and respond to gaps in services to caregivers.
- To advocate for policies and legislation to improve the quality of life for caregivers.
- To provide caregiver educational programs and resource information to social service providers, health care providers, family caregivers, corporations and businesses, and the community.
"People always talk about wearing many hats. I think of caregiving as wearing many shoes: they must be comfortable and allow for things like running, juggling, and tight rope walking...especially tight rope walking!"
– Arlene Nussbaum, Caregiver, Member, Caregivers Coalition of Morris County
The Caregiver Advisory Panel
The heart of the Coalition is the Caregiver Advisory Panel (CAP), a group of caregivers that generates ideas and gives feedback on Coalition programs and plans. This unique panel truly gives the Morris County caregiving community a "voice." The panel also provides caregivers with a supportive group of caregiving colleagues with whom to discuss specific issues.
These caregivers manage a range of caregiving situations, from a parent with Alzheimer’s, to an autistic child, to a bi-polar sibling. Some help people with a disability from birth, like cerebral palsy, while others face caregiving challenges cause by a catastrophic event, like a car accident.
Members of the CAP are often busy caregiving; they meet occasionally as a separate group and conduct much of their work by phone, email, or at regular Coalition meetings. All caregivers are invited to join the CAP and to contribute their ideas, and be involved at whatever level of engagement is best for them.
Join Us
If you are a caregiver, your voice, your story, and your ideas could help guide the work of the Coalition. The Coalition meets on the second Wednesday of each month, at 9:15am, at the Morris County Library, located at 20 Hanover Ave, Whippany, NJ, across from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Contact Us
If you are interested in learning more, or attending a meeting, please email United Way of Morris County, or phone Lori Rubin, the Caregivers Coalition Coordinator at 973.993.1160, x139.
For more Coalition, download a PDF of our Caregivers Coalition brochure.
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Caregivers Coalition of Morris County Steering Committee
Sue Anderson, Communication Workers of America
Bill Cramer, Community Volunteer
Carol DeGraw, United Way of Morris County
Barbara Flint, County of Morris Division of Health Management
Jean Funk, United Way of Morris County
Tom Murphy, Esq., Special Needs, Elder Law, Estate and Medicaid Planning
Ken Oexle, Community Volunteer
Lori Rubin, United Way of Morris County
Carmela Slivinski, DAWN Center for Independent Living
Pat Stelmach, NJ Department of Health and Social Services Nursing Home Advocacy Program
Christa Utz, Mental Health Association
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