National Family Caregiver Support Program
44539 Sterling Highway
Suite 209
Soldotna, Alaska 99669
telephone: 907-262-1280
toll free: 1-866-776-8210
fax: 907-262-3115
email: dani.kebschull@alaska.net
Services
National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) offers the following services to families of the Kenai Peninsula:
Information and referrals:
If you think you may be a family caregiver, need information on your loved one's condition or disease, are unsure what programs may be available to you, or just want to talk about how you are feeling, we can help. We have many fact sheets about taking care of elderly loved ones, as well as caregiver guides, caregiver books, videos, dvd's and pamphlets.
We will find out more about your specific situation, and then tailor an informational packet targeted to your unique needs. We will help you fill out paperwork, call agencies on your behalf, and be your advocate in whatever you need assistance with.
Access to needed services:
If we determine that you qualify for specific programs that we do not offer, we will help you gain access to those programs from other agencies. We will investigate the programs based on your needs, make phone calls on your behalf, and do whatever is needed to help you gain access to the services.
Support Meetings: (check our What's Happening This Month page)
We have regularly scheduled support meetings:
- The second Tuesday of each month at the Soldotna Senior Center from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.
- The last Tuesday of each month at the Soldotna Senior Center from 1:00 -3:00 pm
If you cannot attend at those times, and would still like to attend a support group, we will try to set that up. We are flexible in our dates and times, and can also offer support meetings telephonically through our conferencing system at the Soldotna Senior Center.
Caregiver Trainings, Education, Counseling:
We offer regular caregiver trainings in combination with our support meetings at the Kenai Senior Center on the third Monday of each month (unless otherwise noted.) We also offer, during the winter months, trainings at the Tyotkas Elder Center in Old Town Kenai, on the first Thursday of each month until May, resuming again in September. All of our trainings offer 2 units of CEU's for CNA's.
If you, as a caregiver, feel you need a specific training on a subject or topic, call us and we will schedule it. We have many contacts within the community who are always very happy to help family caregivers by lending their time and expertise.
If you are unable to attend caregiver trainings, but would still like to learn about various aspects of caregiving, we have training videos and dvd's at our office. You can check them out and watch them at home, or spend an hour or so at our office and watch them on our television.
We offer one-on-one counseling. Caregiving can be very demanding, and can also feel very isolating. We are here to help. We understand what caregivers go through and the roller coaster of emotions they sometimes feel they are on. Sometimes caregivers just need a sympathetic ear, or need to know that what they are feeling is not unusual and is actually very normal. We can help validate what caregivers feel.
Respite:
We offer temporary respite to help relieve caregivers of their caregiving role. Caregivers need to get out and do things for themselves in order to refresh and renew their spirits. It is only when they are refreshed that they can take good care of their loved one. Trying to do everything by themselves with no outside help does not help anyone, least of all the elderly loved one. If you need a break once in a while, call us. We can help.
Supplemental Services:
We offer supplemental services to complement care already being received by family caregivers. Supplemental Services consist of incontinent supplies, and taxi tokens for family caregivers who need assistance with transportation. All of these services are free of charge.
