Free Tools at Caregiving.com Help Family Caregivers Navigate Their Journeys

For Immediate Release; For More Information, Contact Denise M. Brown, 773-343-6341

Park Ridge, IL, July 1, 2008—Burned-out, worn-out, wiped-out—that describes many family caregivers of aging relatives and other family members. The daily grind of caring, worrying and hand-wringing takes its toll. To help family caregivers find a better state of mind, Caregiving.com, a website for the everyday heroes in our families and communities, now offers tools to manage the caregiving experience.

Once visitors to Caregiving.com register, they are prompted to create these tools as part of “My Caregiving Plans”:

1. A caregiving mission statement

2. A care plan for both the aging relative and the family caregiver

3. A plan for regular breaks

4. A caregiving routine

5. A team they form to help, including detailing the team's responsibilities

The site also features articles to help the family caregivers create their tools, including how to write a mission statement, how to form a team that helps, and how to write their caregiving routine. A redesigned site with the new tools launched June 1, 2008.

“We wanted to create one place for family caregivers to find everything that they need and want,” says Denise M. Brown, the site's founder and owner. “At Caregiving.com, family caregivers can use the tools to manage their experiences. They also can connect with others through our caregiving clubs and keep others up-to-date on their situations through their blogs.” According to a 2004 survey, Caregiving in the U.S., sponsored by National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, more than 40 million persons provide care to a family member; their caregiving journeys lasts an average of four years.

On the site's forum, family caregivers can post a barometer of their days (“Today, I Feel”), discuss current events, and review products and services. The site also features Brown's advice column (now in its tenth year), weekly tips, and articles that delve into the challenges facing family caregivers.

“When I first launched my website in 1996, I could only offer visitors content and listservs,” says Brown. “I'm thrilled that now family caregivers can call Caregiving.com a one-stop shop that walks with them throughout their journeys”

To use the tools at Caregiving.com, family caregivers can visit http://www.caregiving.com and click on “Join.”

About Caregiving.com and Denise M. Brown
Caregiving.com was founded in 1996 by Denise M. Brown in the corner of her bedroom in her parents' home. The first generation of the site debuted as a personal page on Prodigy (a now defunct online service) in March 2006. The success of the personal page prodded Denise to secure the domain name, Caregiving.com, on August 3, 1996.

On June 1, 2008, Caregiving.com debuted a resdesign which allows family caregivers to enjoy the benefits of social networking. In addition, visitors can write their own blog, create a profile that reflects their goals and mission statements, and form a club to dicuss their experiences with their family members and friends.

Denise, a Caregiving Coach, hosts a weekly talk show, Your Caregiving Journey, on BlogTalkRadio. The show airs live on Monday evenings at 9 p.m. Central. Archived shows are available on Caregiving.com and on BlogTalkRadio.com/Caregiving.

To contact Denise, call 773-343-6341 or email her.

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